Meet ‘AJ’ – Staten Island Zoo’s New Addition October 11, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: AJ the tamandua, baby animals, Baby Tamandua, photography, Staten Island Zoo
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Another terrific visit to the Staten Island Zoo was made even more special by meeting ‘AJ’ the zoo’s new adorable baby tamandua. AJ weighs a little over a pound and was born on September 8th. He and Mom, DJ, are resting comfortably off exhibit. Dad, EJ (Elvis Duran Junior) can be seen in the Tropical Rain forest during the day. Little AJ and his Mom will be on exhibit in a couple of months. AJ is the second known birth of a tamandua in NYC. Thanks again to General Curator and Veterinarian, Dr. Marc Valitutto for a fabulous visit. There is more information about tamanduas below today’s photo montage.
Tamanduas are native to central and south America. They live in forests and grasslands, are semiarboreal, and possess partially prehensile tails. This is a Southern Tamandua (tamandua tetradactyla), found from Venezuela and Trinidad to northern Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay. In their native habitat, they forage for arboreal ants and termites. Occasionally they eat bees, beetles, and insect larvae. In captivity, they will eat fruits and a commercially formulated insectivore diet. They have no teeth and depend on their powerful stomachs to break down their food.
The tamanduas are nocturnal, active at night and hiding during daylight hours. They spend up to half of their time in the treetops. Tamanduas have tapered heads with a long, tubular snout, small eyes, and protruding ears. Their mouths house a tongue reaching up to 16 inches in length.
Cats – Small, Medium and Large October 4, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Audrey and Roberta, Cheetah, Jaguar, Lion, Lynx, Madison the cat, Pallas, photography, Sand cat, snow leopard, Tiger, Zoos
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I love all cats – small, medium and large. This week’s montage is devoted to these gorgeous creatures. Did you know there are 37 species of cat? Down near the bottom of today’s montage you will see my three cats (yes, three) – Madison, the elder cat and sisters Audrey and Roberta who are now two. Want to see them as kittens? Meow. 
The Central Park Zoo – End of September September 27, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Central Park Zoo, Grizzly bears Betty and Veronica, King Penguin, NYC, photography, Photography Workshop, Red Panda, Saki Monkey, snow leopard, Snow Monkey, Titi Monkey, wildlife
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The Central Park Zoo has been my home base for the past 25 years. I never tire of the collection of beautiful animals, the landscape, the NYC backdrop, or the variety of visitors, happy faces and delighted children. Today’s montage features just a small sampling of the collection. Imagine if you will, some of these animals surrounded by carved pumpkins, filled with fun enrichment, during my Fall photo workshop on October 25th from 8:30 to 10:30. To register for the fun, sign up here.
The Bronx Zoo – Sept, 2015 September 20, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: baby animals, baby gorillas, Bronx Zoo, nature, NYC, photography, Photography Workshop, wildlife, zoocation
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I haven’t been to the Bronx Zoo since May of 2014 and figured I was due for a visit. We planned a weekday jaunt while school was in session and enjoyed the zoo almost to ourselves. It is nice to watch adorable baby gorillas, a baby otter, baby Wolf’s guenon and a baby titi without the sounds of screaming children (nothing against kids – but sometimes they are very loud). Take a day (wear good walking shoes) and visit this wonderful collection of animals.
For all of the camera enthusiasts out there, I’ll be running a Fall Photo Workshop at the Central Park Zoo on October 25 from 8:30 to 10:30. I will arrange some special pumpkin and other activities so you can get great, up-close animal shots – all before the zoo opens to the public. Here is a link to last year’s photos from the same event. To register for the fun sign up here.
Potawatomi Zoo – South Bend, Indiana September 13, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Amure leopard cubs, baby animals, Indiana, Joshua Sisk, Marc Valitutto, photography, Potawatomi Zoo, Serval, South Bend, travel, wildlife, zoocation
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We took a mini-zoocation to South Bend, Indiana this week, to visit good friend and now General Curator at the Potawatomi Zoo, Josh Sisk. What a fun and eye opening visit. This 23 acre facility is beautiful – with a varied and interesting collection. The sight lines are wonderful and the habitats are large and very user friendly to the visitor. They have eight species of primates, four species of big cats, Sichuan takin, red panda, river otters, anteater and on and on. There was something new and fascinating around every corner. I was especially enamored with the Amur leopard and her three, six month old cubs. Thank you Josh for your generosity and time. We loved our visit and will be back for sure.
The 2015 US Open September 6, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Benny the dog, photography, tennis, US Open
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I interrupt the usual Sunday Zoo photos to bring you photos from the 2015 US Open where I enjoyed a few days of tennis life and work. The action is great, the sun is hot, and it is a fun change of pace. And yes, that’s my dog, Benny, above – enjoying his US 2015 US Open tennis ball at home.
For all of those camera enthusiasts out there, I’ll be running a Fall Photo Workshop at the Central Park Zoo on October 25 from 8:30 to 10:30. I will arrange some special pumpkin and other activities so you can get great animal shots. Here is a link to last year’s photos from the same event. 
Union Square Green Market August 30, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: photography, Union Square Greenmarket
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I thought I would break up the usual animal themed Sunday montage with some delicious and gorgeous looking flowers and vegetables seen at the Union Square Green Market on Friday. I admit to not being a cook and I am a picky eater but I still love color, form and design. Walking around the market with a friend who is a gourmet chef was lots of fun as well. Here’s to your health!
Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge August 23, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: bird migration, Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, nature, osprey, photography, travel
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At the suggestion of a good friend we stopped at the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge on the way home from the Cape May County Zoo. And what a treat it was. It is an eight mile drive thru around 47,000 acres of NJ coastal habitat and is an important link in the seasonal bird migration. I am not a birder but my friend was doing the best he could to point out what we were seeing. All I can say is ‘Osprey.’ Coincidentally there is an article in today’s NY Times about Ospreys. 
The Cape May County Zoo August 23, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: nature, photography, Photography Workshop, Snow Leopard cubs, The Cape May Park and Zoo, travel, wildlife, zoo babies, zoocation
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A good way to catch up with an old friend is to take a long drive. And so we did – all the way south to the Cape May County Park and Zoo. The zoo covers about 85 acres of habitats and is free – yes, free. This is my third visit to the zoo and it did not disappoint. We did not see any snow leopard cubs as we did in 2013 but we did see active ocelots, lions, tigers and cheetahs along with beautiful large savannah area. The zoo is open year round and I imagine it is delightful in all seasons. And yes, my old friend and I are all caught up.
A reminder that we are running two photo classes at the Central Park Zoo and registration in now open. Do I hear pumpkins?
Dog Days of Summer (with cats) August 16, 2015
Posted by judylobo in Traveling.Tags: Audrey and Roberta, Benny the dog, Madison the cat, photography
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6/26/15
I take a lot of photos of zoo animals but take even more shots of my own brood at home. Enjoy a summer zoo photo break with Benny the dog, Madison the elder cat, and sisters Audrey and Roberta who are almost two.
While at the Zoo 