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World Waterfowl Day January 17, 2025

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 Today (January 17th) is the first World Waterfowl Day. The goal is to spread awareness, knowledge, and interest for waterfowl, as well as the conservation of these birds and their habitats.This group of birds is comprised of more than 170 species of ducks, geese, and swans found throughout the world’s wetlands. Sadly, one-third of all wild waterfowl are considered threatened or endangered. Habitat loss and human population growth are the primary causes of waterfowl declines. Water pollution from agricultural runoff, waste, and other contaminants destroy the food sources for waterfowl. As wetlands are destroyed, so are essential spots for breeding, nesting, and feeding. World Waterfowl Day presents an opportunity for all to work towards the protection, conservation and reproduction of all waterfowl species to stop them from being in danger of extinction. Waterfowl are incredibly adaptable and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. In fact, they thrive in almost any environment that is near water. Protecting waterfowl is crucial. The loss of one species from our ecosystem can have an effect on other species. By protecting waterfowl, we are not only safeguarding the natural world but also the habitats that many other living things rely on – including humans! Enjoy just a small photo sampling of some of these beautiful species.

Cheers thru the Years January 1, 2025

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 Like most of you, many of my old New Year photos popped up this week. I enjoyed looking at the changing cast of characters these past 13 years. Thought you might like to smile at them too. Wishing everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year. The cast of characters include: sister cats, Andrew and Roberta, Madison the elder cat, Sweet Benny the dog, One-eyed Jack the dog, Pete the newest cat and of course the very photogenic and charming Mr Pepe the dog.

A Joyous, Merry and Happy Holiday to All December 25, 2024

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 Holiday time is always fun at our house. We celebrate most holidays (especially the ones that demand the wearing of a hat). My little present gang of critters, Mr. Pepe, Roberta, Audrey and Pete and our loved ones who no longer are here, Sweet Benny, Madison the elder cat and One-eyed Jack) are/were all good sports and since today is Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah we would like to share some of those fun moments with you. Wishing all of you and yours a very merry and a happy. Cheers!

Food, Glorious Food November 28, 2024

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 This very special holiday is all about giving thanks and lots and lots and food.  Here are photos of some of my favorite animals eating their preferred foods.  Notice all of these animals are eating healthy foods. I want to take a moment to thank you all for looking at my weekly posts and for your comments. I have been at this for 20 years and plan to keep it going. It’s a big beautiful world out there. Go outside and enjoy it! The bottom photo is of my goofy gang (Audrey, Roberta, Pete and of course Mr. Pepe). We all wish you a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.

Who doesn’t love a red panda? September 22, 2024

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Yesterday was International Red Panda DayTheir habitat is being destroyed by deforestation, agriculture, and human settlement, and they are also hunted for their fur and body parts. International Red Panda Day was initiated by the Red Panda Network in 2010 as a way to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts for red pandas.It is celebrated to spread awareness about a species that is near extinction. The day was launched by the Red Panda Network in 2010. At that time, 16 schools and a few zoos participated in red panda activities. Currently, more than 60 zoos around the world participate, with over 100,000 visitors on Red Panda Day. On our many zoocations we have come across lots of red pandas with Tennessee seeming to have the most. Other than being absolutely adorable it is almost impossible to take a bad photo of a red panda.

International Primate Day September 1, 2024

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Today is International Primate Day! The order Primates is one of the most species-rich groups of mammals, third only to Bats and Rodents. Over 500 species belong to the primate order, including lemurs, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes! Two thirds of all primates can be found in just four countries – Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Primates mostly live in the jungles of Central & South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. However there are a few unique species that live in temperate areas, where there are warm summers, but winters can become very cold and snowy. Most primates are found living near the equator. Primates, ranging from charismatic chimpanzees and the gentle gorillas to the elusive monkeys that share a unique connection with humans due to their striking similarities in behavior, intelligence, and genetic makeup. More than one-third of primate species are considered critically endangered or vulnerable according to the IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature). Primates serve an important role in maintaining healthy forests and ecosystem, which is why protecting them is so important. It was fun putting together today’s montage and revisiting many of the zoos that we have been happy to visit. Enjoy today’s post my fellow primates!

Ya Gotta Know When to Fold ’em (Part two) July 21, 2024

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As I said last Sunday, knowing when to move on is important. I share Part Two of some of my favorite Central Park Zoo photos taken over the last 35 years. I could have created 100’s more photo montages of my CPZ photos but as I said – you gotta know when to move on. Thank you for so many lovely notes, emails, texts, etc about my retirement from the zoo. They mean a lot. Enjoy!

Ya gotta know when to fold ’em (part one) July 14, 2024

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After 35 wonderful years at the Central Park Zoo, first as a volunteer Friday Zoo Guide for 20 years and then 15 years as their photographer I decided it was time to hang up my lens. As they say ‘ya gotta know when to fold ‘em’ and seemed like the right time to retire. This blog was started 20 years ago as a way to share all of the photos I took ‘while at the zoo.’ I met many of you through my occasional weekend themed photo classes where you got special access to our collection before zoo hours and others if you worked at the the zoo. To the rest of my subscribers I thank you for being part of my Sunday posts. I already miss the amazing staff at CPZ and of course miss our beautiful collection of animals. Am I going to continue this blog? Absolutely! Will I keep going to zoos? Most definitely! Today’s montage is Part One of some of my favorite photos I took over those years (past and present). I hope you stay along for the ride and my next chapter in life.

Daddy’s Home June 16, 2024

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While most caregivers in the animal kingdom are mothers, there are some fathers who join in the role as caregiver. I salute some of those fathers out there in today’s photo montage. Coincidentally – tomorrow is also National Martini Day. Why not celebrate that special day today?

To all the Mothers, Madres, Maters, Mutters, Mayan et al May 12, 2024

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A very Happy Mother’s Day to all to all of the mothers, caregivers, nurturers, pamperers, surrogates and loving coddlers out there. Our mother, Lillian Wolfe, is long gone, but her advice, warnings and general ‘Lili-isms’ live on in our daily lives.  She taught us to laugh at life, to think, to question authority, to march, to protest – to fight the good fight. She also gave  us our moral compass – one glance from Lillian told us instantly whether our behavior was acceptable or not – and I got a lot of glances. My sister Terry and I remember many childhood events differently but we both agree that our mother was a  pistol. Here’s to Lillian Wolfe and all of the other mothers out there who formed and informed what we all are today.