Archive for the ‘San Diego’ Category

More from the zoo

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

After going to the San Diego Zoo five days in a row and visiting the panda exhibit multiple times each of those days, finally saw some activity from Yun Zi.

A zoo keeper shows Bai Yun an empty treat container to let her know there are none left. She then goes and searches for them in her exhibit. Think this is a daily routine.

A Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill found in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Mandarin ducks

A victorian crowned pigeon found in North New Guinea looking into the fish tank.

Breeding hooded merganser

Below, Janey, the orangutan, looking through the glass at a woman whom she knows.

San Diego Zoo

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Have been in San Diego to visit  Bai Yun and her young cub, Yun Zi at the zoo. He sleeps a lot so there are not a lot of photo ops, unless your lucky enough to be there when he is active. So far I haven’t.

Su Lin, the 4-year-old sister on Yun Zi. She is supposed to go to China sometime in the near future.

Mandarin ducks. They are related to wood ducks and have to be one of the most beautiful duck there is. These two bent over in unison to get a drink of water. There are some birds and ducks that fly into the zoo grounds, this isn’t one of them. They are definitely specimen ducks.

Male and female wood ducks.

I have really enjoyed visiting the zoo’s walk-in bird aviaries this visit. In the late afternoon, birds are flying all around you as they prepare to roost for the evening, eating and taking baths in the waterfalls.

Above is a White-bellied-Imperial-pigeon that has an incredible bass two note song. He bows each time he says “who who”.  He does this for a long time, then has to stop to get his breath. Everyone that came in asked “Is he making that sound?” I recorded a short video and will try to upload it later.

Update: Got the video of the white-bellied-imperial-pigeon, but the stream with it’s waterfalls that runs through the aviary drowns out the low bass sound the pigeon makes.

Nicobar pigeon

Grand eclectus parrot

White breasted kingfisher. There is an fish tank in the aviary. Guess the kingfishers can catch their own dinner.

Below, an African lion let out a loud growl when an animal keeper walked in front of him after giving a talk about the lions.

San Diego Zoo, tres

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

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Above: Su-Lin, the 4-year-old sister of Zhen Zhen.

I have spent a week in San Diego, going to the zoo almost every day. Finally getting to know my way around. Hope to return in January or February to see the new male panda cub. Believe he will go on exhibit in December.

koala

meerkat

Top: Koala

Lower: meerkats

kalluc_and_ball

It is so much fun to watch Kalluk play ball. He bounces it both upwards and downward through the water.

silverback_gorilla

Silverback gorilla. “All I get is lettuce to eat?”

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Chinese Snow leopard

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flamingo

San Diego Zoo, more

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

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Two-year-old Zhen Zhen.

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Kalluk, on the right, got out of the water and went up to Tatqiq, on the left, and tagged her to come and play. She followed him into the water for one of their play sessions. Kalluk first lets his sister attack him, but he gets rougher as it goes on. They eventually separate to different areas.

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elephant_foot_care

The zoo has a new elephant exhibit for Asian elephants. The inside area where elephants receive care is where the public passes by and can observe. Above, one keeper gives an elephant treats while another works on the elephant’s foot.

Below: secretary bird.

secretary_bird

San Diego Zoo

Monday, October 19th, 2009

kalluk_w_carrots

Have been enjoying the San Diego Zoo the past few days. I follow the polar bears and the pandas via their webcams and it’s good to see them in person. Also, you get a good workout walking around the zoo, as you are always either going up or down a hill.

Above: Kalluk, the adult male polar bear with a mouth full of carrots.

silverback

frank_the_gorilla

Top picture: a gorilla striking a pose.

Lower picture: Frank, a one-year-old gorilla that all the gorilla’s have been helping to raise. He had been watching an adult eat a green pepper. He may be holding part of a green pepper plant and not sure he likes the taste.

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Some zoo employees were leading two camels down a road. The camels would stop every few feet and need some coaxing to proceed.

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A number of herons and great egrets are fly-in guests of the zoo.

Below: Su Lin enjoying her bamboo sitting in a tree.

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More from Laguna Atascosa

Friday, January 2nd, 2009

Loggerhead shrike at the refuge. This is a small predator bird that kills by biting the back of its’ victims neck to sever the spinal cord. No wonder the birds eating my grapefruit are always on high alert, very aware of their surroundings.

Wild male turkey’s congregate in one pack and female’s in another near where I am camped.

Lots of osprey in the area.

Harris’ hawks, parent in top photo, young one in lower. I was afraid the young one might have a problem with his wing. He was sleeping on a picnic table in the picture. Have since seen him with two other hawks flying without difficulty.

Roseate spoonbill at the refuge.

Bye for now, San Diego Zoo

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

Kalluk, the 1000 pound male polar bear, showing some basketball moves. Caught a short clip on video. He then trys to put the ball in a hole in the wall underwater. All the bears always check out this spot and spend endless time tying to put things in or take things out.

Kalluk is in the water and one female polar bear is resting on the deck. The other female bear comes around the corner and chases the resting female into the water. They fight/play till one escapes to a small ledge. The remaining female then goes after Kalluk. He has to lie down at the bottom of the pool to let the female know she “won”. She then floats up and the fight is over.

This is a long clip, close to 4 minutes.

Bai stops pacing and sits down for a few minutes while waiting for her caretakers to bring in fresh bamboo and treats.

Gao Gao, Zhen’s father.

Finally have learned my way around the zoo. Next time I come, want to spend some time watching the orangutans and the gorillas. A volunteer or employee was working with the above orangutan through the glass, blowing bubbles for her and doing other things to get her attention.

More From The Zoo

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Picture above taken after nursing session shown below.

White-faced whistling ducks grooming each other.

Cattle egret.

San Diego Zoo, Zhen Zhen

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

The weather finally cooled off a little and Zhen Zhen, the baby panda, became more active. Zhen will be weaned from her mom, Bai Yun, in just a few months. A zoo employee at the exhibit said Su Lin, Bai Yun’s 3-year-old cub and Zhen’s sister, will not be returning to China any time soon. China is still recovering from the earthquake and its’ zoos are full.

San Diego Zoo

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Came to San Diego to go to the zoo and try to get away from the heat. It’s been warm here too, but am enjoying the zoo. I have a one-year membership, so I get in free. It is a good place to get some exercise. Being so large and on a hill, you are always climbing up and down inclines.

Above a female polar bear has one toy with her left paw, but wanted the blue ball as well.

The bear here got the pink ball and shook it like a dog would.

On the polar bear web site it says: If you see a brown polar bear, it’s probably Chinook—she loves to roll in the dirt!

An anhinga (anhinga rufa rufa, aka snakebird) drying its feathers.