Parakeet House Is Hilarious Stop at the Fair

Put kids with bird seed on a stick in an apiary (big birdhouse) with nearly 400 parakeets and you've got one of the best tickets at the 2012 Du Quoin

State Fair. Going into the cage won't cost you a dime. The feed will cost you two bucks. Marcus Cook with the White Tigers exhibit says the parakeet house is an extension of his work with the "All Things Wild Zoological Center." He says, "Parakeets are extremely intelligent. We did a small one for classroom teachers and they liked it so much we've been doing this one six or seven years." He adds, "They are like little gang members. It's hilarious." And, it is. The apiary is located just north of Main Street.