It's All Happening At the Zoo!

AKA experimenting with the Panasonic. The idea was to practice taking pictures of animals, just in case I end up going on safari in the not-too-distant future.  Hey, it could happen!

We decided to see the 4-D "Ice Age" movie first, to give the afternoon a chance to cool down a bit.  Unfortunately, it wasn't much of a break from the weather -- the movie is only 10 minutes long!  Then again, 10 minutes was about the outer limit of enjoyability for this particular comedic approach.  It was cute, and vaguely educational if parents take the time to explain the various historic scenarios and geographic locations in which Scrat and his acorn find themselves. But it would be difficult to tolerate for the 1+ hours expected of a feature film.  That is all.

So we took a tour, starting with the sea lions, moving on to the penguins and puffins and seals and bears... Along with vast numbers of people who'd had a similar inspiration.

put your nose in the air like you don't care
glide by the people as they start to look and stare
 do your dance, do your dance

The snow leopards were by far the highlight of the expedition.  Despite the heat (and their fur coats!) two of them were running around chasing each other.  One would stalk, bide its time, and leap - then they'd would grapple and tumble for a bit.  They'd separate and rest, then start again.

They had huge, beautiful tails!

Snow monkey (snow-free July)

This is when I realized how unlike safari conditions the zoo really is.  On safari, I'm pretty sure I won't have  50+ people standing in front of me and more pushing up from behind.  And I won't have to shoot through glass (with one set of challenges) or wires (another set of challenges). 

It was a hot day, so I wasn't really that keen to see the tropical house - but we'd already seen everything else, so we went in.  I was able to recognize the scarlet ibis by their beaks, and the black wingtip.  They are a lot cooler than the usual chickens.

Scarlet Ibis

Bat

I loved this bright blue bird with the googly eyes!

A bit of a poser, though.

The helpmeet, lower branch, has brought some blades of grass for nesting

Helpmeet turns to face the camera, doesn't drop the nesting materials

Helpmeet is a little camera-shy, but the photographer followed

Not a blade has been dropped!!!

A new native meadow in Central Park near the zoo

Susan and I did not remember seeing this meadow before... but a sign helpfully told us it is not our fading memories - it is in fact new.

Originally, she'd been planning on attending evening service at Redeemer, and I was thinking of going home - but she was really drained by the intense heat in the tropical house at the zoo, so she went back to NJ and I walked up to Redeemer.  I told her I'd ask God to give her the credit anyway.