Cretaceous Park
Today I went to the Museum of Life and Science for a special preview of the Dinosaur Trail, which is... well, exactly what it sounds like. It's a trail with dinosaurs on it, statues of different ones from the Cretaceous period (at least if I remember correctly). I've got some pictures, which I've randomly rendered as a nature documentary despite the fact I don't remember the names so just... Work with me here. xD
Pics as links because thumbnails are kinda bothersome and there's a number of them.
It was a hot, hot day, suitable for the creatures I knew lay beyond, but not so suitable for a girl in a black shirt and jeans. Endeavoring, I walked to the entrance of Cretaceous Park; entering through the gates I was immediately confronted by this large dinosaur which I was glad to see was a plant eater, considering all the kids climbing over it. The tameness was surprising, although naturally people kept away from the head; plant eater or not, I'm sure the bite was vicious. It didn't look too happy about the kid with the snake though. Snapping one full-body picture I moved on.
Moving further through the area I came across a larger plant-eater, this one with a large crest and several horns. Thankfully it was serenely chomping away on plants and not me, but it was certainly eyeing me when I snapped a closer photo. I got out of there before it decided I was too close.
Hearing a rustle in the brush ahead I moved on, coming across these two little guys coming out of the plants. I recognized these two at least, little feathered dinosaurs called Troodon. The more forefront one noticed me and took up a defense posture, but damn if it didn't look like he was posing. His companion wasn't so keen on mugging for the camera.
The two little guys scampered away at this point, not because of me but because the ground was rumbling. I turned and there through the trees was a giant sauropod. I snapped off a quick photo but was distracted by growls coming from nearby.
When I went to investigate the odd growling I came up on this dome-skulled dinosaur, looking oddly cheesed off. The reasoning became clear when a second emerged from the brush with a hiss, and I left the two before I got involved in their fight.
It was a little while later that I was lucky enough to come across the sauropod again, which turned out to be a gentle enough giant to let people wander around him without a care. He also took an interest in my camera, which was a little unnerving but cool. See you later big guy.
Coming near the exit of the complex I came upon an armored dinosaur in the brush, and I stopped for a moment to watch the sun gleam off his head and shoulders. Unfortunately my reverie was broken by an ear-splitting roar behind me and I turned to see, to my horror, this giant meat-eater looming over me! The spiny dinosaur looked ready for battle with the predator while my dad stood there, unaware of the conflict at hand. I snapped the final photo and grabbed him, dragging him out from between the pair and away out of the area. The whole thing was certainly an unforgettable experience, but if I ever go back I'm bringing a fan.
Bonus pictures! Five from the Butterfly House at the museum, which is also exactly what it sounds like. A couple of them are really blurry because, well, butterflies. Motion. You know. BUT there's a couple really good, really close ones in there that came out well.
-A pretty red and black one on a flower. Unfortunately before I could get a good picture of it someone actually picked it up (stupid person, I'm working here!) but that one was the best of the bunch.
-A black and white one that stopped on a plant beside the path.
-My favorite one, an eye-spotted butterfly in one of the fruit dishes placed about.
-This one's a little blurry too, but the wings are still really pretty.
-Aaaannnd lastly, this one was WAY too close (I was taking it by holding the camera up above my head, so I couldn't judge the preview image right) and I couldn't get a good one before it flew away, but I HAD to keep it because how often do you see colors like that? Really.
Pics as links because thumbnails are kinda bothersome and there's a number of them.
It was a hot, hot day, suitable for the creatures I knew lay beyond, but not so suitable for a girl in a black shirt and jeans. Endeavoring, I walked to the entrance of Cretaceous Park; entering through the gates I was immediately confronted by this large dinosaur which I was glad to see was a plant eater, considering all the kids climbing over it. The tameness was surprising, although naturally people kept away from the head; plant eater or not, I'm sure the bite was vicious. It didn't look too happy about the kid with the snake though. Snapping one full-body picture I moved on.
Moving further through the area I came across a larger plant-eater, this one with a large crest and several horns. Thankfully it was serenely chomping away on plants and not me, but it was certainly eyeing me when I snapped a closer photo. I got out of there before it decided I was too close.
Hearing a rustle in the brush ahead I moved on, coming across these two little guys coming out of the plants. I recognized these two at least, little feathered dinosaurs called Troodon. The more forefront one noticed me and took up a defense posture, but damn if it didn't look like he was posing. His companion wasn't so keen on mugging for the camera.
The two little guys scampered away at this point, not because of me but because the ground was rumbling. I turned and there through the trees was a giant sauropod. I snapped off a quick photo but was distracted by growls coming from nearby.
When I went to investigate the odd growling I came up on this dome-skulled dinosaur, looking oddly cheesed off. The reasoning became clear when a second emerged from the brush with a hiss, and I left the two before I got involved in their fight.
It was a little while later that I was lucky enough to come across the sauropod again, which turned out to be a gentle enough giant to let people wander around him without a care. He also took an interest in my camera, which was a little unnerving but cool. See you later big guy.
Coming near the exit of the complex I came upon an armored dinosaur in the brush, and I stopped for a moment to watch the sun gleam off his head and shoulders. Unfortunately my reverie was broken by an ear-splitting roar behind me and I turned to see, to my horror, this giant meat-eater looming over me! The spiny dinosaur looked ready for battle with the predator while my dad stood there, unaware of the conflict at hand. I snapped the final photo and grabbed him, dragging him out from between the pair and away out of the area. The whole thing was certainly an unforgettable experience, but if I ever go back I'm bringing a fan.
Bonus pictures! Five from the Butterfly House at the museum, which is also exactly what it sounds like. A couple of them are really blurry because, well, butterflies. Motion. You know. BUT there's a couple really good, really close ones in there that came out well.
-A pretty red and black one on a flower. Unfortunately before I could get a good picture of it someone actually picked it up (stupid person, I'm working here!) but that one was the best of the bunch.
-A black and white one that stopped on a plant beside the path.
-My favorite one, an eye-spotted butterfly in one of the fruit dishes placed about.
-This one's a little blurry too, but the wings are still really pretty.
-Aaaannnd lastly, this one was WAY too close (I was taking it by holding the camera up above my head, so I couldn't judge the preview image right) and I couldn't get a good one before it flew away, but I HAD to keep it because how often do you see colors like that? Really.
