a day at the zoo
I finally went to the zoo today. I’ve wanted to go for a long time, but the weather or timing hasn’t been right. I went ahead and joined because I can go in at 7:30am as a member, which means it’s not so hot; plus you don’t have to wait in line if you’re a member.
It was terrific! I took so many photos I filled up my CF card. I had to go through and delete ones that didn’t turn out well so I could take more. And I didn’t even see the whole zoo! I had to leave because I was getting a wicked sunburn and I was flat-out exhausted. So you’ll have to excuse me — I have to go put on some more after-sun aloe lotion now.
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Awesome images, V. I’m partial to the cats, too. When you go there, be sure to notice all the wild birds that make the zoo their home — black-bellied whistling ducks (bright orange beak, black wing edges, brown body and a white wing bar when they’re standing around.); great egrets & cattle egrets nesting in the trees overhead (by the alligator/croc pool, which is what they’d do in real life — keeps mammal predators away, which is ultimately safer than the occasional nestling that falls out of the nest and becomes croc bait). The white pelican you photographed is a long-time resident. I don’t know his story, but he’s definitely a rescued bird, probably from a run-in with a fishing trawler down at the coast — lots of wing injuries due to getting tangled in netting.
The zoo’s a magical place to take a camera and just go nuts. We let our membership expire, since the past year we only visited the zoo twice. I have a feeling we’ll end up renewing the next time we head out there.
i like how so many of the birds are free to leave the zoo. seeing them in my backyard occasionally doesn’t suck either. the ones with range seem to favor a path between the zoo and the botanical gardens – and a quick stopoff for a brewskie at my house.
skorloff – i can never tell if you’re serious. do you really get birds at your place? i think you might, because i remember a few swooping around seemingly in a free area.
shannon – i’ll definitely be going back again soon. i think i missed half the place! and i had such a good time. and the membership is SO worth it.
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