The Everglades Wonder Gardens, in Bonita Springs, has opened a new bird exhibit in the Lightner Parrots and Parasols Courtyard.

This exhibit allows visitors to pet and hold exotic birds from cockatoos to parrots to macaws. There are many perches with umbrellas in this new courtyard so the birds can sit and relax in between greetings.

The birds can do many things that visitors love to see, including giving high-fives, being cradled like a baby, and they may surprise you and try to take your glasses, as Marilyn Lightner knows all too well and can be seen on the Naples Daily News site. Check out the news site for their photos of the grand opening!

The Lightner Parrots and Parasols Courtyard opened in early March and continues to host visitors each day.

The Everglades Wonder Gardens has been open since 1936 when it started as a reptile garden roadside attraction along the Tamiami Trail from Tampa to Miami. As the Gardens grew, it expanded and now includes multiple attractions with the goal of educating and engaging the community in a unique experience.

“Today, the Wonder Gardens is home to rescued birds and reptiles nestled among the sprawling banyan trees and plantings. While preserving the very best of Everglades Wonder Gardens, the non-profit is caring for more than 300 resident animals, upgrading wildlife enclosures, growing the botanical beauty of the property, adding education programs and events, and further engaging the community to enjoy this jewel in historic Downtown Bonita Springs,” its website states.