Scenic Sunday -Tucano

toucan - Mineiros Brazil! 

 This weeks scene is dedicated to that fruit loop of a bird.  You know the one I comb the tree tops and skies of Brazil in search of:  Yes...the toucan or in Portuguese the Tucano.  I am not sure if I fell in love with the bird prior to coming to Brazil but I find myself infatuated with the quirky black and white bird with its over sized orange bill.  On previous trips to Brazil I learned about this bird through friends and a little research on line and even saw one or two from a distance.  A true wild bird,  Toucans tend to keep their distance from human settlements and most of my personal experiences have been from quite a distance or as we drive along the countryside making it difficult to capture a photo with my little instant shot camera.  I was told by a friend that they tend to stay in groups so if you see one there are probably more.  They love a good 
mango tree when the fruit is ripe but unfortunately I have not been around when they have discovered these trees. However, on this most recent visit to Minerios, the palm seeds must be what is on their diet plan as on several occasions a small flock of toucans have been spotted flying through the blue skies around Minieros.  

More Toucans - Mineiros Brazil 

My first close encounter happened a good week ago as we were sitting on the patio and heard a grunting noise of sorts.   Luiz informed me that this was the call of the tucano and so I grabbed my camera and we left the gated yard to follow our ears in hopes of capturing a photo or two.  To my joy,  a flew blocks away a grunting toucan sat in wait in the lower fronds of a palm tree.  As I got closer he was surely posing for his close up,  or maybe just interested in the seeds of the tree.  This would be the first sighting of many in the days to follow.  These great flying oddities stayed around a few days to grace the vast blue above town.  I call them oddities because their little black and white bodies are trumped by the large orange beak.  This vast difference in their proportions make them easy to distinguish when in flight.  By no definition are toucans graceful,  but I could sit and watch them for hours.  In my observations I came to appreciate the creator of the movie "Rio" even more.  The character Rafael (a toucan)  truly is a work of art as he captures the quirky characteristics of this wonderful bird.  Dodging from branch to branch,  looking and observing what is going on around,  and not pausing for a minute as he searches for a morsel to eat.   I am entertained by the character Rafael even though I am not watching the movie and watching the real thing.  Toucans are such beautiful birds as they flutter from tree to tree and dodge from branch to branch.  Always looking down that long orange beak at what may be peeking back at them.   I hope you enjoy as much as I have! 

The Movie Rio -- review

This was a spectacular film with roots in Minnesota (not too far from where I call the ultimate home) and the characters travel to the heart of Rio de Janeiro (not too far from where I currently call home).  Over the years, animated musicals have become classics. Rio could easily become one of those films. The song and dance numbers here are really enjoyable since you don't need lyrics to enjoy good music.  Even the story finding love in unexpected places seemed really good and well thought out even it typical for animated stories.  We went to see it in Portuguese and although I could not understand a lot of the conversation,  the story was easy to follow and the animation was simply beautiful.

The story begins about 20 years ago, when Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), a blue macaw was smuggled from the Brazilian rain forest along with other birds, to be sold in the exotic pet trade.  Blue falls off the truck I will just leave you with an introduction so you can head to the theater to see the rest of the story.  It was simply beautiful and appetizing to the eyes.  While at the theater we found that they are showing it in English one time and night so it is a definite "thinkg to do" some evening. I am anxious to see it again in English. I enjoyed it so much in Portuguese that I believe  the voices of Ann Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, George Lopez, Jamie Fox and the rest will put it over the top of my expectations.  I am positive it will be a true treat and wonderful show.

Two thumbs up for this animated wonder and a must take the kids to.  It will surely boost the excitement of the city of Rio and put it on more peoples places to go in their lifetime.  I will be heading back to Rio as well sometime soon and now have a couple of things to see.