We spent most of the day at the Artis Zoo, which is only two blocks from the place we are staying. I fell in love with the southern ground hornbills, mostly because they are the only bird I have ever seen with eyelashes.

There was also their song, a deep booming duet that echoed round the zoo. The first bird goes “HOOT hoot-hoot” and the second one replies “HOOT hoot-hoot-hoo-ho” trailing away into silence before the first bird takes up the refrain again. The sound comes from a big throat sac.

Here’s some more pictures in no particular order. Since I can’t remember what all the animals are, I’m just going to caption the pictures with headlines from today’s Guardian.

The last one is a bird that will help you get down.

Yep, it’s an Eider Duck.

I should have stuck with the Guardian.