One day in June, I was driving on a route that I seldom take when something very big and very green caught my eye. I looked over and there, on a billboard for the Milwaukee County Zoo, was a HUGE version of Rio, my Vosmaeri Eclectus male. To say that I was shocked is an understatement! As I gazed upon the billboard, I realized that I had begun driving toward it and found myself crossing into the next lane -- good thing no cars were in that lane! I can tell you that an Eclectus this big is one awesome sight.

Several days later, I contacted the Zoo Public Relations Department and was told that the Zoo Director, Chuck Wirkenhauser, really loves birds and he wanted a bird displayed on one of the billboards. Polar bears, otters, tigers and monkeys are the usual selections for their advertising. The only requirement was that the bird to be selected had to be a resident of the Mahler Family Aviary. Since there is at least one Eclectus (to my knowledge) in the Neotropical Rainforest section of the aviary, he became the Official BillBird!

After my initial sighting, I discovered that the billboard was changed several weeks later. I guess I must have originally seen it at the end of its run. Shortly after that, I was exiting the freeway in another area of Milwaukee as part of my job as a Courier for Fedex. As I came over a hill, I discovered that the BillBird Eclectus must have flown over to the north side of town after a rest from his trip from New Guinea because he now appeared in a new and much more prominent location. I kind of feel like I'm Eclectus watching, and just waiting to see where this gorgeous guy will appear next!

Please click here If you would like to check out the Milwaukee County Zoo.