Like butter. Flies.
On the week-end viridis_ama and I decided to slide on over to the zoo while our memberships were still valid.
It had been a while since we were last there and since our last visit the new butterfly house had been opened. A seasonal garden/building, the set-up and plants were quite phenomenal.
The photo is a little deceiving in that the buildings seen on the left and right of the panorama are actually facing 90 degrees from each other, with a well placed gift-shop/information centre at their axis.
Once inside the butterfly house we were able to get up-close and personal with cocoons, caterpillars, and of course the butterflies.
I also seem to have some dust on my lens or sensor. Hmmm.
Right now the butterfly emporium seems to be specialising in monarch butterflies and painted ladies (the butterfly-variety), though their signage does imply that they will have more native species in the future.
After the butterflies we went back to Toucan Ridge to see if any more of the inhabitants had been introduced. We were hoping that the ocelot was there, but alas he/she was still a no-show. Our visit did pay off though, as we got to see a new type of toucan. this little groove-billed toucanet:
We didn't see the channel-billed toucan this time, so we're assuming they must slowly be integrating the different toucans... sort've in the same way one would introduce a new cat to your home, I s'pose.
On our way out we appeared to pique the curiosity of a western crowned pigeon.
We decided to wander around the rest of the zoo, but the heat and humidity was starting to climb back up, so we decided to do a short circuit and head back out.
Speaking of head, we stopped by the camels, and they never cease to amaze. In this case, I think the employees didn't follow the manual properly when attaching this camel's cranium.
We did make a quick stop at the lions after, but the behaviour of some of the people in the crowd really soured the mood, so we decided to get out of the heat and head home. Just remember, stupid people, baiting a lion can sometimes end poorly... even if it is from a karmic point of view.
It had been a while since we were last there and since our last visit the new butterfly house had been opened. A seasonal garden/building, the set-up and plants were quite phenomenal.
The photo is a little deceiving in that the buildings seen on the left and right of the panorama are actually facing 90 degrees from each other, with a well placed gift-shop/information centre at their axis.
Once inside the butterfly house we were able to get up-close and personal with cocoons, caterpillars, and of course the butterflies.
I also seem to have some dust on my lens or sensor. Hmmm.
Right now the butterfly emporium seems to be specialising in monarch butterflies and painted ladies (the butterfly-variety), though their signage does imply that they will have more native species in the future.
After the butterflies we went back to Toucan Ridge to see if any more of the inhabitants had been introduced. We were hoping that the ocelot was there, but alas he/she was still a no-show. Our visit did pay off though, as we got to see a new type of toucan. this little groove-billed toucanet:
We didn't see the channel-billed toucan this time, so we're assuming they must slowly be integrating the different toucans... sort've in the same way one would introduce a new cat to your home, I s'pose.
On our way out we appeared to pique the curiosity of a western crowned pigeon.
We decided to wander around the rest of the zoo, but the heat and humidity was starting to climb back up, so we decided to do a short circuit and head back out.
Speaking of head, we stopped by the camels, and they never cease to amaze. In this case, I think the employees didn't follow the manual properly when attaching this camel's cranium.
We did make a quick stop at the lions after, but the behaviour of some of the people in the crowd really soured the mood, so we decided to get out of the heat and head home. Just remember, stupid people, baiting a lion can sometimes end poorly... even if it is from a karmic point of view.