The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/23825
“The birds are from all continents, except Antarc- tica, I guess.” Christine says, adding with a laugh. “No penguins. “This is a Sailfin Dragon,” she says, pointing to an animal that literally looks like a small prehistoric crea- ture, which scampers up towards her feet. This lizard is from the Phillipines. It’s 12 below outside, and so the tropical environment inside isn’t quite as warm as it’s supposed to be. She says the cold weather outside is affecting them. “A lot of people ask if the birds eat the butterflies,” she says, matter of factly. “They’re all nectar drink- ing, fruit-eating and seed-eating, so they don’t eat the butterflies.” “These cranes,” she says, pointing across the room to a large cage with a couple of tall African Crowned Cranes, “in the summer there’s an outdoor bird exhibit, and you can go in and feed them. They’ll eat out of your hand. But they can’t be out here. They’d be in the pond eating the fish.” Animals are chosen based on their diet and their temperament. Some are separated in cages, like the cranes, but most a free range, which becomes apparent as Christine begins the next part of her tour and a Red-Crested Touraco almost dive bombs her. As it zooms past, it comes within inches of her head. “I love the cranes, but they aren’t in here all the time. I love Sadie (the Sailfin Dragon). Oh, and the tortoise. There’s a Burmese Mountain Tortoise in there. I love her. Would you like to see some leaf insects?” As she moves towards a terrarium, she points to a yellowish blotch on a brown stick: “That’s an insect there on the trunk. Those are from Malaysia and the Phillipines.” Further along, her daughter and co-owner Maedbh is tending to some animals. “Do you have a favorite animal Maedbh?” she asks. “No, we know them all.” The two are happy to talk to visitors, but allow people to look on their own if that’s what they prefer. “Sometimes people like to look on their own,” Christine says. “We talk to them if they want to talk, but sometimes couples like to be left alone.” General admission is $10, and college students with an I.D. get in for $8.50. The conservatory has a Valentine’s Day special for couples, too, offering 25 percent off general admission. “We’d especially like to reach the college students,” she said. “A lot of them don’t know we’re here, and when they come in, they seem to have a lot of fun and enjoy it.” The conservatory’s hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. “It’s kind of a tropical getaway in the winter,” Christine says when asked what people should know about the conservatory. “I don’t think people need to know all those grizzly details. Just tell them to have fun.” _ Trevor Hayes Jan. 27, 2011 O-Town Scene 17