The Georgia National Fair exhibits include animals beyond horses, cattle, and goats.

Visitors can also enjoy an exotic petting zoo; reptile shows, a few performing sea lions, and tropical birds.

Among the attractions is Wendy Horton, a California-based animal trainer, who brought her tropical birds to the fair. Horton's birds are not only visually stunning with their bright feathers but also entertain by talking, singing. One of her birds can even ride a scooter.

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Horton emphasized that her work, and her performances with the birds, goes beyond entertainment; it's also educational. She said she's an advocate for teaching healthier ways to feed birds that live in captivity.

"Seed is horrible for pet birds," she said before explaining that seed is what she calls a 'high-energy,' food. "Think about it; our pet birds aren't flying around the place looking for food, water and shelter. They're not like wild bird. So, they don't need that high-energy food. When you're feeding them that; especially sunflower seed, it's going to turn into problems such as feather plucking, excessive squawking, and even fatty liver disease. It can shorten their lifespan. I'm a big advocate for saying, 'No seed for our pet parrots'."

Instead, Horton suggests feeding domesticated parrots a chopped vegetable diet.

"That's the best thing for them," Horton added.

Horton notes that the birds require significant work and constant care. Horton says developing these training behaviors provides an excellent source of mental and physical stimulation for her feathered friends

"Once they learn it, they learn it. For her to learn how to drive the scooter; that took about two weeks. So, it depends on what we're training. Getting her to talk on-que was the hardest that could take anywhere from six months to a year," she said.

Fairgoers can catch Horton and her birds at the 36th annual Georgia National Fair, with showtimes at 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m., located near the Southgate entrance.

The Peach State's national fair kicked off Oct. 2 and will last through Oct. 12. Gates open at 3:00 p.m. on day one and then from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily at the National Fairgrounds in Perry, Ga.