tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73651685625339375572011-08-05T13:50:52.207-07:00Have you heard?Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-61152568096570486422010-11-07T13:20:00.001-08:002010-11-07T14:43:22.354-08:00

Hawk Mountain is a wildlife sanctuary in east-central Pennsylvania. It is located right on the migration path many birds take and is a very popular spot for birdwatching.We did see the migrating raptors - but only the outlines. Raptors tend to fly rather high, and only the strongest optics could get a good close-up of them flying overhead. There were volunteers calling out the types of

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-79950702916828245242010-11-07T13:03:00.000-08:002010-11-07T13:19:27.599-08:00

Shortly after arriving in Philadelphia (and before even unpacking my car) we visited Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, which is located right in Philadelphia and was established to protect the tidal marshes next to Delaware river.We didn't have much time, but the place looked very promising and we will definitely return there for a longer walk.We did see a white-tailed deer, though! There it is

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-74145677781689191162010-11-07T12:38:00.001-08:002010-11-07T13:03:55.408-08:00

This Zoo is, actually, the oldest in the US. It's new to us, because we just moved to Philadelphia.Here are some of the residents of Philadelphia Zoo as we found them this fall.Gila monster taking a snooze on a warm rock.These two male kangaroos were practicing wrestling in their spare time.Hammerkops are known for their huge nests. The pair in aviary was actually working on building

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-57425458930080745572010-05-22T22:59:00.001-07:002010-05-23T09:07:31.637-07:00

After helping out with a herpetology survey for Natural History Museum today (walking around the park looking for lizards) we were invited to a private tour of the museum's herpetology collection. Fascinating stuff, although a little disturbing, especially for those with weak stomachs (ye be warned!).The collection is housed in a very modern-looking vault with mobile shelving units, much like the

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-17850523999684285812010-02-21T02:31:00.000-08:002010-02-21T09:56:16.924-08:00

One of the greatest attractions of the Central Coast for me is the elephant seal rookery near San Simeon. The huge seals can be seen there any time of year, because they take turns coming ashore to molt, mate, be born, fight, rest, nurse... The winter is the best time, though, because it's the peak season for births and mating. This year I was for the first time able to drive up there in the

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-6967414856514758282010-01-31T00:13:00.001-08:002010-01-31T00:20:33.131-08:00

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-88942085072193944262010-01-23T22:18:00.000-08:002010-01-23T22:25:37.392-08:00

Try finding the difference between the last two photos :)

Roxyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00257313277432347549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-73428280415048451452010-01-23T21:00:00.000-08:002010-02-21T09:59:28.054-08:00

Last Monday was a holiday, and guess where we spent it? So what it was pouring most of the day? Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific is a great way to spend a day. We are planning to go back there again, soon!

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-17679726351732736642010-01-05T21:41:00.000-08:002010-01-05T21:51:59.158-08:00

It happens so fast, you have to actually view it frame by frame to see the pelican folding himself neatly into an arrow right before hitting the water. California Brown pelicans are famous for their crazy diving habits: they dive from 50 ft above the water and stun fish 6 ft below the surface. To survive the crash, they have to inflate special air sacs under their skin before the dive - and

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-83936891894259210152009-12-26T00:18:00.001-08:002009-12-26T12:01:16.035-08:00

The newest addition to the Zoo - Kikuyu Colobus baby. Quite unexpected, it says on the sign, and there is a naming contest going on. All these things aside, just watching this little baby clinging to his mother, nursing and poking its head out with those huge eyes gazing at the world... so much fun!

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-37054809705105712512009-12-19T21:55:00.000-08:002010-02-21T03:48:25.636-08:00

This picture merits a separate post for two reasons. First, I like it a lot; in fact, I think it's the best picture we took this trip. (Roxy snapped it from the car window, so the credit goes to her.) Second, it's gory and not very appetizing, though true to nature, so if you are squeamish, don't look! On the other hand, if you like gory stuff, clicking on the photo will bring up the original

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-7750313646980528822009-12-19T19:32:00.000-08:002010-02-21T03:48:00.587-08:00

The Central Coast is a bird-watcher's paradise. I didn't say that, it's from one of those free brochures they give you at the hotels and tourist information centers. It's true, though. The lush vegetation and the varied habitats, from beaches and creeks to forests and meadows, with everything in between, all crowded along the 300-mile or so stretch of coast make for a dazzling variety.So, even

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-1226089882468431652009-12-18T20:12:00.000-08:002009-12-18T20:50:13.612-08:00

African Wild Dog male was feeling rather well that October morning...Sacred Ibis male knew it was spring and he must do something very special...And the Madagascar Radiated Tortoise male was very busy one summer day...

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-56383348516233319592009-12-14T21:12:00.000-08:002009-12-14T21:54:30.291-08:00

Did you know monarch butterflies are capable of crossing the ocean? More often, though, they migrate up and down the coast here in the Americas.Clusters of monarchs make a small eucalyptus grove at Pismo Beach their winter home. One by one they fly south from as far as Canada to seek shelter from the elements and land in the tall trees, forming shingles for further protection from rain and cold.

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-35829832226682317342009-11-29T21:54:00.000-08:002009-11-29T22:16:13.743-08:00

Our recent expedition up California's Central coast revealed some interesting, as yet undiscovered facts that might change some of the accepted viewpoints of the modern science.Here is one. It is commonly accepted that zebras naturally occur nowhere but Africa. The photo below is a proof that it is simply not true. Apparently, millions of years ago some prehistoric zebras crossed the land bridge

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-3321097211320658872009-11-14T23:40:00.000-08:002009-11-16T22:25:19.575-08:00

Crested screamers have eggs!I snapped a couple of (horrible) pictures during the tour today.Tomorrow I'll post more about who crested screamers are and why it's cool they have eggs. Maybe some better pics, too.

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-79803428561758930382009-11-09T19:39:00.000-08:002009-11-16T22:24:33.436-08:00

You can read all about the new addition to the snow leopard family on LA Zoo website (http://www.lazoo.org/about/press/0909/090909cubs.html). But watching the mom and the two cubs is a whole another story. Visitors have been glued to the exhibit for weeks, watching in fascination how the growing cubs learn to run, climb, growl and now – hunt. You can see them wrestling, chasing each other and

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-32780088176094583772009-11-09T19:18:00.000-08:002009-11-16T22:21:54.933-08:00

Early one morning, on October 25th to be exact, I was wandering around the Zoo entrance plaza, looking at the birds that frequent the bird feeders. There are some large date palms near the entrance, and there was a lot of commotion going on them because the dates were near ripe and a lot of birds were in haste to feast on them. I recognized the jays and the acorn woodpeckers, but something green

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-24256220350452128962009-11-08T14:34:00.000-08:002009-11-08T14:36:51.502-08:00

All the posts on this blog up to this point are old, they were pulled from our family blog, where they were interspersed with our other, non-nature related experiences. From this point on, we will be posting new material, unique to this blog only.

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-23897897998944641912009-07-15T15:55:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:01:25.196-08:00

The cheetah run safari at San Diego Wild Animal park was fun-fun-fun. This was on June 19, so it took me a while to post these photos, but better late than never, right?There he goes... just look at him. Isn't he magnificent?The star of the show - cheetah Majani, one of the largest cheetahs in captivity. He made two runs that day, and the rest of the time was catching his breath.Just for sake

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-90013964768860633122009-06-26T00:08:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:01:11.163-08:00

Last week, I drove down to San Diego to meet a friend, who flew there from Canada. The detailed impressions are on my other blog, here are just some nature photos.Cliffs at Point Loma. Not surprisingly, the place is called Sunset Cliffs Park.A cormorant colony on a large rock by the cliffs. The white color of the rock is mainly due to their, ahem, by-products.A view at the same rock with wide

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-21645241499588903562009-05-26T00:47:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:18:29.604-08:00

After Roxy and I left the Zoo (see the previous post) we didn't go straight home, as one would expect from two very tired people. Instead we decided to catch the nice evening light and do some wildlife exploring at the nearby creek. The place is teeming with life, especially birds - it's a birdwatcher's paradise.There are at least 6 different kind of birds in this photo - can you name them all?

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-83161056938794338772009-05-26T00:13:00.000-07:002009-11-10T19:25:11.649-08:00

Santa Barbara Zoo was one of those places I always wanted to go and never got around to. Driving along the Cabrillo road, I often saw the giraffes from behind the hedge and wondered about the Zoo, but somehow we always seemed to have other agenda. This May they had a new California Condor exhibit opened, and that decided it: we had to go. So, last Saturday Roxy and I hit the road early in the

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-10253199426201977372009-05-22T03:54:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:02:04.813-08:00

This is NOT a butterfly, it's a threadwing, and it's related to ant lions and lacewings. Most of you will probably never see one: it's endemic to Southern Caucasis region.This is NOT a stretched-out ladybug, but a totally different beetle, called blister beetle.NOT a bear. A very large (size of your palm) moth.NOT you garden variety tiger swallowtail, but the endangered European counterpart.NOT a

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-6119595440427892582009-04-02T01:21:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:02:18.839-08:00

Another photoshoot, this time at LA Zoo. Mainly portraits.This is done with Canon S3IS compact. Once my new dSLR arrives, I will try to shoot similar photos again and compare the quality.For now, let's see how well you know zoology. How many of these can you identify before looking at the tags?Red crowned mangabey female deep in thought over some food.Crowned crane looks exhaused by the incessant

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-62567349121111400142009-02-14T23:46:00.000-08:002009-11-07T21:02:52.508-08:00

Hummingbirds are amazing creatures. Heard that one before, right? Well, so have I, but I just can't get over it. The smallest of all birds, some smaller than the eye (or the brain) of an ostrich, they are nothing but a bunch of fluff with a needle-like beak - but with what an attitude! What amazing agility! And how beautiful they are - all colorful, with gorgeous iridescent feathers that change

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-78228823469310328052008-10-13T14:25:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:05:41.722-08:00

Prague Zoo surprised me not only by its size (it's very large), but also how well kept and clean it was, how beautiful the grounds were and how progressive it was in general. This is rare for post-socialist countries climbing out of economic difficulties, but for Prague it's even more praiseworthy, because not too long ago, in 2002 , the city and the Zoo were damaged by a flood. There were photos

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-6025364156481514222008-07-15T05:04:00.000-07:002009-11-07T20:57:53.684-08:00

This magnificent creature is a rhinoceros beetle – one of the largest and most fascinating beetles in Armenia. When I was a kid, first collecting bugs, then photographing them, I really wanted to find one, but never did. So, this here monster represents my childhood dream come true!Some interesting facts about rhino beetles, gleaned from books and Internet: they are mostly useful creatures, their

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-69887650003027909112008-06-11T04:49:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:04:44.206-08:00

Even a brief look at Armenian folklore will reveal the following fact: a donkey was by far the most popular animal with our ancestors, featured in more folk tales, sayings, proverbs, idioms and jokes than any other character (okay, maybe dogs are mentioned quite as frequently). This is easily accounted for, if you remember that Armenia is a mountainous country where, before the heavy machinery

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-25902746287440709242008-05-23T04:13:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:08:37.214-08:00

If you look at the map of Armenia, you will notice in addition to Sevan Lake in the middle and several smaller water reservoirs in various areas, a group of strange, geometrically shaped lakes in the southern corner of the country. These are artificial fisheries of Armash, bordering with the "no man’s land" between Armenia and Turkey, and there we went last Sunday with a small group and the

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-32305513409545768582008-05-20T06:29:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:07:28.169-08:00

The photo is clickable-enlargeable. Did you notice how many sparrows make their nests on the outskirts of a stork nest?

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-30790668158448789012008-04-09T03:41:00.000-07:002009-11-07T21:10:01.933-08:00

These two gorgeous creatures are, in a way, brothers, belonging to the same family of swallowtail butterflies. The first one is called Machaon, the second - Podalirius. Interestingly, in Greek mythology those two characters were brothers, too! Here is a quote from Wikipedia, if you are interested. In Greek mythology, Machaon was a son of Asclepius. With Podalirius, his brother, he led an army

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-70756926417703435672008-03-10T01:34:00.000-07:002009-11-07T20:53:35.480-08:00

Because the storks are here!!!

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-29159242678312696082007-04-11T03:26:00.000-07:002009-11-07T20:51:04.923-08:00

On our big hike last summer, among other interesting creatures, we found a monster of a caterpillar - the size of a grown man's thumb, with spikes and hair, bright yellow with neon blue. This alien-looking creature was crawling across a rocky slope, where it was spotted by Roxy and, after posing in front of my camera, duly boxed and delivered to the city. I knew that if a caterpillar leaves the

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7365168562533937557.post-13556687467306624632007-02-12T22:53:00.000-08:002009-11-07T20:49:55.272-08:00

I didn't even know our Zoo is open in the winter. Turns out it is, and most animals feel pretty good surrounded by snow. Plus, we got to see many of them in their winter coats, which was quite a treat. It's usually much lighter in color, thick and lush and very pretty.The lynx, for one, is reddish-yellow in the summer. Now it's napping wrapped in beautiful silver fur.This wild cat (serval)

Mariamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06720913216430597650noreply@blogger.com2