The Bronx Zoo has always been there for me, and the rest of my family. It was one of Rosa and my first dates. It's a place that always feels like home.
We needed a break with some quiet time together, and, as always, the Zoo provided. The heavy traffic on the George Washington Bridge originally shown vanished by the time we reached it. Once we arrived at the Zoo, we had the place almost completely to ourselves. I don't think I've ever seen the Bronxdale Parking Lot that empty.
Speaking of needing a break, here's some random photos I took instead of any detailed prose. The phone transfer did something weird and I lost a few. Including one of the coolest pictures I've ever taken there. Alas.
Because we skip it or save it for last in the warm, main zoo season, we usually start the cold days with the World of Birds. It's telling how amazing the whole place is, when the two story, first really immersive zoo exhibit, which has been updated multiple times, becomes a "nice to have." The emptiness really enhanced the atmosphere and ability to see the modern day dinosaurs.
This is a stork in the foreground. A song about a "background stork" is an inside joke in our family. Even I don't understand all of them.
The hornbills decided to pose for us. This is the first of several examples where we take pictures of Anabelle's favorites when she's away at school.
The bears were on exhibit, and staging a protest against not being able to hibernate.
The Snow Leopard was actually by the glass and I got my camera ready in time for some great shots... therefore it mooned me immediately.
Look, a ta-pair. A reminder that even when we need quiet time, I am hilarious.
Anabelle's favorite primate is the Gibbon, and we like them too. The fact that they opened up the "examples" enclosure in Jungle World to give the female gibbon a place to interact with guests means we always stand here quite a while. And unlike crowded days, I didn't need to be dragged away from large numbers of people calling her "a monkey."
What smells worse than being in a room next to a giraffe? Being in a room next to five giraffes. Finally got a photo of their giant purple tongue though.
The gorillas have a tiny little area where they can come out from their HUGE indoor winter quarters if they want to see guests. I was happy that Julia, one of the older ones, came out to see me (also one of the older ones.)
Everyone in my family has weird, non-animal things in the Bronx Zoo we connect with. This turtle is one of Anabelle's.
The Mouse House when it's not full of screaming, running children is a very chill experience. These are jirds, (including the ghost image of the one that kept popping up) which I took in the dark, experimenting with my new, fancy, hand-me-up phone. I got an even better picture of another tiny, huge eyed mouse in the dark, but my computer ate it. Not that I'm bitter.
Awesome looking little croc. In the reptile house, you'll find me by the crocodilians. Always the safest place. They're either alone, or with turtles.
I've always loved the scarlet ibises... So my phone screwed up the resolution when it ate the other pictures. Alas.
I am a huge rhinoceros fan. They're the most prehistoric looking mammal on Earth, and so massive. Its like a Buick with a face. I know elephants are bigger, but they get so much press and exposure. It makes rhinos the most other worldly.
Those lizards are... having a great time and thankful they are not out in the cold. Moving on.
Hey! The Komodo dragon has really grown... or they got a new one.
No day at the Bronx Zoo is complete without a stop at Ugly Fountain Parking. Back to normal writing next time!
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