Kangaroos, cockatoos come to fair

"The Canadians weren't very nice to us," said Nancy Rouas of the center. Most of the critters could be flown to Alaska in pet kennels. But a cassowary and an adult emu had to be left behind.

No airline would transport the big birds, Rouas said. "But the baby emu was still small enough to fly."

As cargo, that is. Emus are flightless birds.

The snag led to further problems. A van that carried equipment for the show arrived in Palmer after noon on Thursday, three days behind schedule.

The set was only about half-assembled when a crowd of several hundred was finally admitted. They gawked at Jack and Skippy, the baby red kangaroos. At the black swans, Bonnie and Clyde. At the gigantic Australian white pelicans, Nero and Neptune.

Rouas presented a talk with her feathered friends, several of whom performed. Scooter, a sulfur crested cockatoo, bobbed his head to Rouas' questions, waved at the crowd with his claw and imitated an American eagle on command. Rosie, a rose breasted cockatoo, upstaged him by "playing basketball." Emily, the baby emu, on the other hand, had to use all of her wits just to follow a bowl of food.

Emily weighs only 20 pounds or so but she looks as big as a dalmatian.

The pelicans look even bigger, nearly calf-sized, raising their enormous, prehistoric-looking beaks 5 feet above their big, webbed feet.

Throughout the talk, various birds flew around the facility freely, returning to Rouas whenever she summoned them.

This is probably the first appearance of white pelicans in Alaska. A pair of boxing kangaroos were at the fair in 2004. But Marco may be the first wallaby to appear in public in Alaska.

As of today, there will be a large cage containing 200 parakeets. Visitors can go into the cage with the birds.

"Outback in Alaska" will be open at the Don Sheldon Events Center during regular fair hours. A talk will take place at noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m. on weekends and at 1, 4 and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Also, a special children's presentation will be at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays.

The exhibit and talk are free with fair admission.

Reach Mike Dunham at mdunham@adn.com or 257-4332.