SATS Loc: Belgium

I hope the bird has an equal sense of wonder.

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cessnalvr Loc: West virginia

Good catch

Voss

A good photo.

SATS Loc: Belgium

Thanks cessnalvr.

SATS Loc: Belgium

Thanks Voss

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice shot.

SATS Loc: Belgium

Thanks for looking in John, appreciated

AZNikon Loc: Mesa, AZ

Outstanding-you captured the moment perfectly and framed it so we go straight to the payload: the girl's face. Well done!

SATS Loc: Belgium

Thanks Bob, I really do appreciate such a thoughtful critical comment. Thanks for taking the time.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Really like the expression you caught on the little girl's face. Nicely done SATS.

Don

SATS Loc: Belgium

Thanks Don, your comment is very much appreciated.

truckster Loc: Tampa Bay Area

Nice ...

SATS Loc: Belgium

Thanks for the thumbs up, Truckster.

Tikva Loc: Waukesha, WI

A very interesting shot. Makes me wonder what the occasion was to have all of these birds out there for people to touch.

SATS Loc: Belgium

Thanks for the comment Tikva.

This shot was taken on the Antwerp Sunday market which is also known locally as the 'vogel' or bird market. I think in times gone by that the birds and animals were quite a significant part of it but they are now confined to a small side street. Exotic birds and most pet shop animals are also for sale together with live chickens geese and turkeys etc. In the main market street the stalls are three rows deep and and 150 – 200 yards long. It also extends over the theatre plain so it is quite a sizable affair.

Whilst it is true that people can touch the birds and they are advertised as tame, that as the saying goes, is a version of the truth. If you look carefully at the birds the little girl is touching you will see that they have had their flight feathers (the ones at the very ends of their wings) clipped so that when they try to fly, they cannot get any lift and go down instead of up. The birds know this and so don't try it. Is it cruel? I don't know. The flight feathers grow back the following year and since the practice has been going on for as long as anyone can remember it has become accustomed practice and the relevant authorities tend to leave the stall holders alone.