SUMMER AFTERNOON AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO: Giraffes, Gorillas and Much More

 

Masai Giraffe, Los Angeles Zoo, Los Angeles, CA

We recently visited the Los Angeles Zoo, for the first time since the pandemic. It was good to see the animals again. We missed them. When the zoo was closed to visitors during the pandemic, the animals apparently missed seeing people too! Some adaptations have been made for social distancing since the zoo reopened, but most of the exhibits are open.

Male baby Masai giraffe, 3 months old. Born to Zainabu (mother) and Philip (father)

Highlights of our visit included koalas, cassowaries and other Australian animals, a new baby giraffe (born April 8th and already nearly 7 feet tall!) and a rambunctious young gorilla named Angela (born Jan 2020) playing in her enclosure, not unlike an energetic human two-year-old.

Southern Tamandua, a South American anteater.

Our first stop was the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo, not far from the zoo entrance, where we watched a Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) wake from its nap and explore its enclosure.

The path to the main part of the zoo passes the meerkat colony, and the animals were on alert, just as they are in the wild of southern Africa, where they are on the constant lookout for predators. If one meerkat spots a hawk soaring in the sky above, it emits a warning and the rest of the animals scurry to safety in their underground burrows. Although the meerkats are presumably safe in their zoo exhibit, they still watch out for large birds soaring overhead.

Caribbean flamingos.

Soon after the meerkats we passed the flamingos—both the bright pink Caribbean species, and the smaller and more delicate colored African flamingos. In both enclosures the birds were busy honking and jostling one another in minor disputes.   

Rock wallaby.

It was a warm day and many of the animals were resting in their enclosures. But in the area with the Australian animals, large trees supplied plenty of shade. We spotted an echidna scurrying around a kangaroo and under two koalas tucked into the branches of one of the trees. Other Australian animals on exhibit included a rock wallaby, a cassowary with its brightly colored head crest, and inside the reptile house, an enormous lizard--a perentie.

Perentie.

The perentie (Varanus giganteus) is the largest monitor lizard or goanna native to Australia. It is the one of the largest living lizards on earth. On our several trips to the Australian outback we had always hoped to see one (from a distance, of course), but never came closer than viewing some tracks. The perentie on exhibit at the LA Zoo looked to be at least five feet from nose to the tip of its tail. They can grow to up to  eight feet in length. The striking pattern of its scales resembles elegant designer fabric, but in the wild would likely be effective camouflage.

Angela, a young lowland gorilla.

Our final stop was at the gorilla enclosure. While the older animals appeared to be napping, the youngest member of the family, a young female named Angela, romped around the enclosure, playing with sticks, jumping from rocks, and turning somersaults, as she entertained herself and the crowd. 

As always, a visit to the zoo is potluck--you never know which animals are going to be active or visible in their enclosures.  We had an enjoyable afternoon, saw lots of animals, and didn't even have time to visit all of them.

For a map of the Los Angeles Zoo and information about planning your visit, click HERE.

FERRY TRIP ALONG THE COAST OF NORWAY: Let’s Deliver the Mail! Guest post by Owen Floody

Early morning on the coast of Norway.

Our friend Owen Floody, a superb photographer and frequent contributor to this blog, recently took a trip on a mail ferry along the coast of Norway. Here is his report.

Just back from a 12-day cruise on a Hurtigruten CoastalExpress ferry traveling the coast of Norway between Bergen, in the south, and Kirkenes, near the Russian border.  The coast is often majestic and beautiful and the many fjords we visited are especially so.  Several Hurtigruten ships ply the route and my experience is limited to the Nordlys, a relatively recently renovated ship with a capacity approaching 600 but carrying just 397 on our trip.  The quarters were functional, if a little cramped, and the food (breakfast and lunch buffets, served dinner) were great.  The ferry, being a ferry, makes many stops, only a few of which are long enough for off-board sightseeing.  However, Hurtigurten’s Expedition Team offers more than 70 excursions that vary in style (e.g., walks, hikes, bus tours, small-boat tours), physical demands, and cost.  These can serve to pursue special interests or simply to break up the routine.

Bakklandet section of Trondheim in the early morning.

Talk about the ultimate weather-dependent trip?  This might be it.  Many of the coastal landscapes feature tall mountains that would seem to demand clear weather, but Norwegian weather is notoriously changeable and damp.  What to do?  Well, one approach to this dilemma is one we selected.  The basic ferry ride extends just 6 days north or south.  But you can combine these, as we did, to create the 12-day package.  The obvious benefit is that you now have two shots at any cannot-be-missed features or areas.  Bear in mind, though, that doubling your throws doesn’t guarantee a score.

Puffin seen on a birding "safari" to the Giesvaerstappan Islands.

Another thing to do is to reconsider if brightly lit landscapes are always most interesting or best.  We lucked-out on the weather at several points (e.g., our birding “safari” to the Gjesvaerstappan Islands) and I would not trade these in.  Along similar lines, periods with good but more subdued light sometimes were perfect, such as on an early morning walk through the Bakklandet section of Trondheim, as were occasional instances when the light was distorted to produce attractive effects.  For instance, a genuine sunrise can’t occur if the sun never dips below the horizon (as in Norway at this time of the year.)  Nevertheless, very attractive sunrise-like effects can be produced if the sun’s direct rays are appropriately blocked by landmasses and/or clouds, as in the top photo above.

Dark and Stormy

Misty and Atmospheric

However, I’ve been cheating a bit.  The real test of my suggestion is the ability to produce appealing images under more challenging conditions.  In this regard, I can only note that many of my favorite images do this (obviously in my opinion), so many as to define two categories, Dark and Stormy, and Misty and Atmospheric.  Above is one of my favorite images in the first of these categories and below it is one of my favorites in the second.  And when do images suggest divine inspiration as clearly as in the image below, another in my Misty and Atmospheric set?

Divine Inspiration

Finally, I must close by reminding you that cruises and Covid are not an ideal fit.  My traveling companion and I went determined to mask aggressively in all public settings.  Once on board, however, we said no more than a weak “baa.”  Consequently, each of us spent a significant fraction of our initial period home fighting off Covid.  We should have had the courage of our convictions.  

SARAH P. DUKE GARDENS, Durham, NC: The Tranquility of Nature on a Summer's Day

Terraced gardens. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham, NC

From traditional garden flowers to native trees and plants, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham, North Carolina, offers a plethora of opportunities to appreciate the beauty of nature. Paths meander down shaded paths, around a small lake, through formal planted garden beds, and across grassy lawns. 

Guide to the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

I recently toured the garden when I was visiting family in nearby Chapel Hill, NC. It was a warm summer day—quite hot in the full sun, but pleasant as long as we stayed in the shade.

Shaded walkway at the garden entrance makes one feel immersed in an Impressionist painting.

After parking and purchasing our tickets, we entered at the gate and proceeded to the rose garden, and from there to the terraced gardens that are part of the Historic Gardens where the Duke Gardens began in 1934. From there we followed trails to the Asiatic Arboretum, which features plants from Southeast Asia. Then, finally, we toured the Garden of Native Plants with its wildlife garden, carnivorous plant collection, and bird viewing shelter.

Purple cone flowers (Echinacea).

It was hard to resist taking photos. Here are a few favorites:

Lily pond at Azalea Court.

Close-up of sacred lotus reveals its bizarre cone shaped center.

Shrine with view of lake and Meyer Bridge

Meyer Bridge in the W.L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum

A shaded bench in the native plant garden invites visitors to rest and enjoy the view.

A carnivorous plant opens its "jaws", waiting for its next victim.

A bee gathers nectar from an appropriately named beebalm (Lamiacea) blossom. Also called bergamot.

Snowballs the size of melons were in their full glory.

Every day is different at the garden, depending on the weather and time of year. On our visit we enjoyed the height of the summer bloom. The garden is open year round.

Sundial: "Nothing is worth more than this day."

For information about visiting the Duke Gardens, click here: https://gardens.duke.edu/visit