Reid Park Zoo: Brightspot and Friday Fun Visit

Today was a mostly cloudy and a Spring-cool day.  Mark and I decided it was time to revisit the Reid Park Zoo.  I don't know how many years it has been since we were there--the Elephant Exhibit is certainly new and other changes such as a large green space for families to relax and play and relocation of bears and the gibbons were also new to us.  We spent over an hour and a half, with three short rests at the aviary, flamingo and duck pond and in front of the jaguar.  Enjoy the photos, taken from Mark's camera phone, hence the wire cages in a few, but not all, of them.

We started with Tiger, Tiger, burning bright--a not too distant cousin of our cat, Gray.

 

Peacocks were prancing and cawing throughout the zoo.  Here are two males, showing their feathers.

 

 

 

I love giraffes--the way they chew, their graceful, loping stroll and their stance on those stilt-like legs.  Here is a photo of the youngest one and then the youngest with his/her "parents"?

 

 

 

What brought me out today, was thinking about the aviary and how much I love to watch birds.  Here are two of several we saw.

 

 

 

When our son was a baby, a toddler and youngster, going to the Zoo was one of our regular outings.  Once, getting too close to the pond, he fell in.  But, most of the time, it was a shady spot to rest, feed the ducks and watch the nimble flamingos.  Here is the pond and a mated pair taking a nap.  Needless to say, we rested, too!

 

 

We took the bamboo-lined path to the South American exhibit and saw this resting llama and jaguar. I especially like the light and texture in the llama photo.  The jaguar, before she rested (she is one of two sisters), made incredible low-toned barks--we don't know why.  And then she just "hung out."