Creatures in and of the zoo
A weird crow call drew me out from my office. Just outside, a red tail was getting harassed by a single crow and few songbirds. This grackle was the most persistent of the mob.
I don't know what these house sparrows are doing. The female has got a good grip on the male, but why?
The female slips through the mesh a little further before eventually losing her grip on the male--then he flew away.
Near the zoo hospital a cottontail enjoys a little sun.
A beautiful but dangerous creature, poison ivy makes its first reappearance.
I decided to test out the telephoto capability of my camera with this young Grevy's zebra. Hello!
In the crack between a wall and the paved way, some weeds compete for dominance: Here's a burdock rosette. Will the plant live its full 2 year life cycle? Will its enormous taproot find enough soil nutrients in the gap of the pavement?
A young Ailanthus tree sends some leaves out to gather fuel. There are 60 foot trees of this species cracking sidewalks in cities around the world.
This glossy buckthorn is a humbler species--at best it will grow to be a rangy shrub or a skinny little tree.
Inside the Bird's World building I saw this small dull-colored songbird. It wouldn't be easy for a house sparrow to get into this part of the zoo, but it's within the realm of possibility. I took a number of pictures so I could look at them later and determine what I was actually seeing.
There! As the bird contorts to preen himself, he reveals his leg band. A permanent metal band on his right leg identifies him as a male. I deduced that it was an orange bishop, in non-breeding plumage.
Over in the Tropical Forest building, a capybara relaxes. Or was relaxing before I set off a flash in her face.
The gorillas seem happy with their enrichment and scattered greens.
Jockamo the anteater has many pieces of dead wood he can rip apart if he wants (he does).
And these mallards will just help themselves to this pan of peacock food thankyouverymuch.
Whatever. It doesn't bother Christopher.