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The National Zoo and Bao Bao January 26, 2014

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Bao BaoWe could not resist a visit to The National Zoo to meet the adorable five month old panda, Bao Bao.  She made her debut to the public last week.  At only 18 pounds she is beyond adorable.  We were lucky to catch her awake for a short time.  Bao Bao means ‘precious’ or ‘treasure’ in Mandarin. Check out the video I took in 2008 when the last panda was born at the National Zoo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaVrBTFtIJE

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San Francisco Zoo – Last Zoo Visit of the Year January 12, 2014

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Baby KabibeA New Year’s trip to the West Coast found us once again at the wonderful San Francisco Zoo.  Little Baby Kabibe, the young gorilla was adorable (even while sleeping) as were the adorable six baby peccaries.  This zoo holds a special place for my family and me A loud shout out to Dom Dorsa for his generosity and time.  You made our visit very special.

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End of the Year Photos – No ‘ifs’ – Just Ends and Butts (2013) December 29, 2013

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OKAPI BUTTIt has been a great year for new faces, places and spaces.  Thank you for coming along for the ride. I celebrate the end of my 10th year of Sunday montages, and following tradition I leave you with with no ‘ifs,’ – just ends and butts.  I am also taking a look back at some of the new places that we have visited. Looking forward to more zoo-cations in 2014 and wishing you all a very Happy Zoo Year!

Fort Worth Zoo
Dallas World Aquarium
Oakland Zoo
Beardsley Zoo
Dickerson Park Zoo
Kansas City Zoo
Blank Park Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Como Zoo and Conservatory
The Raptor Trust
St Louis Zoo
Cape May County Zoo
Staten Island Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Southwick’s Zoo
Franklin Park Zoo
Turtleback Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
San Francisco Zoo

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Year Round Gifts from the Central Park Zoo December 8, 2013

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Chinstrap and chickGiving and receiving gifts during the holiday is grand but at the Central Park Zoo gifts are given all year long.  This week’s photo montage salutes just some of the Zoo’s arrivals during 2013.  The twin snow leopard cubs made their public debut last month and continue to draw happy visitors. The arrival of a young sea lion pup increases our collection to four females. This year also saw the birth of banded mongooses, baby Patagonian cavies, an adorable chinstrap penguin chick, swan goslings, a Victorian crown pigeon chick and a baby lamb. The Central Park Zoo has 23 different duck species on exhibit and has the largest public collection of sea ducks both by number of individuals and species represented in the world. Most of the species are either uncommon in zoos or endangered in the wild. Some of this year’s new hatchlings include both Pacific Common and Spectacled eiders, Long-tailed ducks, Scaly-sided and Red breasted Mergansers, Falcated, Baer’s Pochard and Radjah ducklings. It was a very good year.  I cannot conclude today’s montage without including my own special gift, my two kittens, Audrey and Roberta below today’s montage.

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Say Cheese! December 1, 2013

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Red Bird of ParadiseZoo photography is lots of fun.  Special moments happen when you are patient and observant. Suddenly your subject is staring right back at you with a priceless expression as if they were saying ‘cheese.’  Click! Click! Click!  All of today’s photos were taken at the Central Park Zoo.  Come visit. We are open every day from 10 to 4:30.

It is that time of year.  My zoocation buddy and photographer extraordinaire Mary Schwalm is once again offering her 2014 desk calendar. The 2014 Galapagos themed month by month calendars are ready for shipping! They are $10 each plus shipping at cost.  They make great holiday party/office party gifts. Order now! You can e-mail Mary directly at mary@maryschwalm.com for details and orders. I am placing my order today.

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Prospect Park Zoo Baby Bonanza November 17, 2013

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Red Panda CubsWe headed to Brooklyn to see all of the zoo babies now at the Prospect Park Zoo.  A terrific, fun visit included their five month old Red Panda cub twins, Geoffrey Marmoset twins, baby baboons and a young sea lion pup. Speaking of babies, below today’s montage you can see photos of my two adorable 2.5 month old kittens.  If you are on facebook, you can ‘like’ their page (Audrey and Roberta).  It is fun, you get a photo a day and they have a fast growing list of fans.

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My Kittens

Snow Leopard Cubs at the Central Park Zoo November 10, 2013

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CPZ Snow Leopard CubsTwo adorable snow leopard cubs made their public debut at the Central Park Zoo this week.  The twins were born on June 2, 2013 and now weigh about 30 pounds each. When fully grown they can be anywhere from 60 to 120 pounds. Zoe, the mother is seven and was born at the Sacramento Zoo and Askai is six and came to us via the Bronx Zoo but was born in a zoo in Berlin, Germany. The ‘awwwwwwwwwww’ factor was loud and clear from happy visitors who came to see the cubs this week. I encourage you to drop everything and visit us as soon as you can.  They grow up quickly. I dedicate this week’s photo montage to Zoe and the yet, un-named cubs.  If you scroll to the bottom you can see the very handsome Askai, the cubs’ father.

For those of you that are signed up (or want to sign up – there are spaces left) for the two photo workshops at the zoo this month will get to have a few private moments with the cubs before the public runs up the hill to see them. Click here and under Family Programs you will find: Grandparents Photo Series: Breakfast with the Birds next Sunday, November 17 from 8:30 to 10:30 and under Adult Programs you will find: Photo Series: Breakfast with the Birds two weeks from today on November 24th from 8:30 to 10:30.  Sign up – it’s fun and you will see these a adorable cubs for sure.

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Southwick’s Zoo – Fall 2013 October 25, 2013

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CHIMPANZEERounding out a leaf-tastic fun visit to New England with my zoo-cation buddy, Mary Schwalm, was a visit to the Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon MA.  This autumn visit proved to be the best one ever.  An abundance of color combined with having the zoo almost all to ourselves made for a fine mini-zoocation.

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Franklin Park Zoo – Fall 2013 October 20, 2013

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Roo JumpTook a quick trip to New England and a mini-zoocation ensued.  Lots of beautiful foliage, fabulous animals and fun friends.  Off to my sold out Fall Foliage Photo Class this morning.  It promises to be a pumpkin-tastic experience.  Want some photo fun for yourself?  Check out two more photo classes at the Central Park Zoo in November here.

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Fall at the Staten Island Zoo October 13, 2013

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Binturong babyWe went to visit our friend, Marc Valitutto the General Curator and Veterinarian at the Staten Island Zoo.  Marc gave us a fabulous tour and showed us the amazing changes he has made in this 75 year old zoo. The collection has jumped from 250 to over 350 species and continues to grow.  In a few weeks, their two gorgeous Amur Leopards will move into a 4,500 square foot exhibit which will be three stories high – making it one of the largest exhibits in the nation. We met the zoo’s new adorable baby binturong, (smells like popcorn) in the new nursery, which can also be viewed by the public, where we met a young fennec fox, sloth, baby crane and African porcupine.  A shout out to Marc for his generosity and continuing great work.  The Staten Island Zoo, which proudly calls itself  ‘New York’s Biggest Little Zoo’ is a great place to visit.  We went via the Staten Island Ferry which in and of itself is a great adventure.

Upcoming fun Photo workshops  at the Central Park Zoo:

1. October 20 – 8:30 to 10:30 – Fall Foliage Series – A few spaces left in next Sunday’s guaranteed fun pumpkin/fall foliage extravaganza.
2. November 17 – 8:30 to 10:30 – Grandparents Photo Series – A fun family experience spending time with the tropic zone birds, watching them eat breakfast, taking photographs with your kid(s) .
3. November 24 – 8:30 to 10:30 – Breakfast with the Birds – Spend time with the tropic zone birds, watch them eat breakfast, photography heaven.

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