As well as showing its tremendous collection of birds, the park specializes in conservation and breeding

The Jurong Bird Park, north of Singaporecity is a delightful oasis for bird lovers. Here are birds from around the world - penguins from cold climes to parrots from the tropics.

The penguins are, of course, in a special cold building. What is fascinating is that they are behind a huge pane of glass so you can see them swimming. Shades of watching a nature program on television.

The huge aviary of parrots is extremely noisy with colorful macaws squawking, drab African grays imitating everything they hear, and clean white cockatoos which are almost as noisy as the macaws. All of them vying for attention.

The winner has to be the red/blue/green/yellow macaw who likes to show off by sliding down the roof over a large feeding table - several times. To start he goes feet first, then tail first, then on his back and, finally, he falls off with a great flutter of wings and squawks.

The Waterfall Aviary

The walk-through aviaries are wonderful places, the largest being the Waterfall Aviary with its more than thirty meters of man-made waterfall and about 1,500 birds from Africa and South America. Inside are all sorts of gorgeous birds including colorful bee eaters, starlings in all shades of blue, and many others. There are plenty of feeding stations so by standing near one, keeping very still and quiet, it is possible to get close to the birds.

The Southeast Asian Birds Aviary

The Southeast Asian Birds Aviary speaks for itself - local birds, as it were, but of the exotic and endangered species. The Asian Fairy-bluebirds are a terrific royal blue and black; there is also a kingfisher which from the front looks very dull in brown and white, but when he turns around there is a beautiful turquoise back.

This is somewhere else where it is advisable to stand still and stay quiet to see them close-up and listen to their beautiful songs. The lucky may even get to see the very shy Bali Mynah which is white with black tips and patches of blue around the eyes.

Jungle Jewels

To see what seem to be thousands of humming birds, the aviary called Jungle Jewels is the place to be. The Jewels part of the name comes from the jewel like colors of these delightful birds with speedy wings. There are the Ruby Throats, the aptly named Sparkling Violetear and the turquoise Paradise Tanager, to mention but three.

The Lory Loft

The Bird Park's fourth walk-in aviary is the world's largest Lory Loft which, as it is home to Australian birds, simulates the Australian outback. Lories come in many colors - green and yellow, reds, multi-colored and everything in between. To see the lories it takes a walk along an elevated boardwalk and across suspension bridges.

Other delightful corners

For an unobtrusive view of the fabulous Birds of Paradise, there is a forty meter long tree-top walkway.

Around the park are cages and aviaries containing birds of prey, Swan Lake with swans and various types of other water fowl, and pens with a variety of other birds.

The newest addition to the park is the African Wetland Exhibit with unique bird species such as the shoebill, storks, cranes, geese, pelicans and many more native to Africa.

An easy way to get around the Jurong Bird Park is by the Panorail which has stops at convenient locations.

Getting there: Take MRT from Singapore city to Boon Lay Station, transfer to SBS (bus) number 194 or 251 at the Boon Lay Bus Interchange.

This is just one of many of things to do in and around Singapore.