Favorite Philly Zoo Photos | Part 2
by Elouise
Let’s go to the zoo again! You’ll recall that we’re in downtown Philadelphia visiting the oldest formal zoo in the USA. This was just over a week ago when it looked like Spring had finally arrived. D took this photo as we were leaving the zoo. The skipping girl and abstract deer are fairly flying through the air.
Which brings us to birds. First, here’s a peek at a caged primate enjoying the fly-around tube. Primates housed in protected areas (not outdoors) get to roam from time to time. The tube snakes like a railroad track through several areas of the zoo, so they get to watch us for a change!
The McNeil Avian Center was my favorite stop. The first area was wide open, with tropical plants and a stream. Exotic birds roamed at will, and guides were available to answer our questions. Other areas had protective boundaries, always with a variety of birds housed together, with plants and ground cover that suited their natural habitats.
As we walked back through the exhibits, the afternoon sun hit the ground. You can see what happened in the second photo. Sunbathing, bird style!
Our last photo stop tells a little story. Several peacocks roam the zoo. It’s spring. As you can see below Mr. Peacock is in resplendent glory. And he tries his best. For a long, long time he tries his best. And we all watch, hoping to see what we’ve never seen before…
Alas, Ms. Peacock seems to prefer the giant sea turtles. Or was it that other male screeching from across the sidewalk?
Thanks for coming along!
Elouise
©Elouise Renich Fraser, 6 June 2018
Photos taken by DAFraser at the Philadelphia Zoo, May 2018
Telling the Truth 
How beautiful! Love the birds – so resplendent in their colors.
It’s been a wild time for zoo animals recently – four peacocks escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo and then the rumors of a breakout of lions and tigers and bears (oh my!) from a German zoo after a massive rain storm/flood. The latter proved to be a false alarm (though the bear ended up being shot), but it sure looked like the animals were on the march to habitats they might have preferred.
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I can’t say I blame them — even though I love seeing them up close. The Nairobi game preserve was the most animal-oriented I’ve ever visited. I also remember stopping along the side of the highway more than once in the West to admire herds of bison in the 1950s. Thanks for your comment, Meg.
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Such beautiful birds, especially the peacock. They really are resplendent when they fan their tail.
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I’m so happy you enjoyed them, too. Sadly, I learned (after I put this post up) that four of the flock had gotten out of the zoo (not unheard of) several days ago. They ended up on a super busy freeway during evening rush hour. Officials couldn’t get the peacocks to return. The next day they found one dead (hit during the night by a vehicle), rounded up two of them, and as of this morning hadn’t yet located the 4th. In the past when they left the zoo grounds they found their way back. Such fragile beauty. So now the Zoo is rethinking how they’re housed. Still, I’m so glad we got to see them up close. They bring so much joy to so many. Even though they can be unpredictable.
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That’s sad. I hope they find the other one safe and sound. At the zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba, they used to let the peacocks wander about free, but I never saw one fan his tail when I was there.
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the lovely images captured made me smile 🙂 lots of catching up so please don’t be offended if I don’t comment on all of your lovely posts, I would be here all day my friend 🙂 happy Fourth and hugs to all and yourself most of all ❤ ❤
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I was stunned to see the string posts you read today! 🙂 I’m also thrilled to see you had time to do it….and most grateful, as I hope you know. Sometimes I feel like I’m being remade from the inside out–which I never quite expected when I began blogging. I hope your makeover is going well! 🙂 Not that I would have anything I’d want to make better–except that you would be happy, healthy and find joy in each day and each little thing that catches your attention. Hugs back to you and yours! I haven’t been over for a few days…time for me to catch up, too! 🙂
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