The San Diego Zoo has spent a lot of time cleaning out some of the exhibits that were overgrown with vegetation, such as the eagle and condor exhibits. Now we can see the Andean Condors, and here is one that had an itch while I was there:
The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is the only member of the genus Vultur. It lives in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America. Its wingspan of up to 10.5 ft is exceeded only by the Wandering Albatross, the Southern Royal Albatross, the Dalmatian Pelican, and the Great White Pelican.
Andean Condors are primarily scavengers, feeding mostly on carcases of deer and cattle. It is one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a lifespan of up to 100 years in captivity.
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The San Diego Zoo has been pruning and cutting vegetation in many of the exhibits, sometimes even removing overgrown vegetation or vegetation that was too large for the exhibit.
I felt kind of sorry for the Bateleur Eagles because they had nary a tree left in their exhibit.
I was able to get some pictures of birds that I never had pictures of before, and, of course, knowing how demanding my readers are, I’ll share some of them with you this morning.
First, if you don’t understand my title, see The Birds.
And now, The Birds (of the San Diego Zoo)!
The Bateleur Eagle is from Africa and Arabia and is the only bird in the genus Terathopius. It is believed to be the origin of the Zimbabwe Bird, the national emblem of Zimbabwe. Its daily hunting range can be as large as 250 square miles. The Bateleur Eagle is in the Near-Threatened IUCN Red List category due to loss of habitat, pesticides, capture for international trade, and nest disturbance.
The Steller’s Sea Eagle is from northeast Asia and is the largest eagle in the world, getting up to twenty pounds in weight. It feeds mainly on fish, loving salmon and trout (who doesn’t?). It is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to loss of habitat, industrial pollution, and over-fishing by humans (so next time you go to a restaurant, order catfish!). They are classified as a National Treasure in Japan. The current wild population is estimated at 5,000, and decreasing.
The California Condor is the largest North American land bird, and the only member of its genus Gymnogyps. Its huge wingspan of up to 9.8 feet is the largest of any North American bird. It also gets up to 26 pounds, making it one of the largest native North American bird species. The condor is a scavenger, and has a lifespan of up to 60 years. It is a critically endangered species and one of the rarest birds in the world, with 226 living in the wild and 179 in captivity, as of May 2012. The San Diego Zoo and the Los Angeles Zoo have been instrumental in hatching and raising birds in captivity and, as of 1994, have been re-introducing them into the wild in California, Arizona, and Utah.
The Andean Condor is also a Near Threatened species occurring naturally in South America. It is also a scavenger, preferring large animals such as deer and cattle. It is one of the world’s longest-living birds, having a lifespan of up to 100 years in captivity. It is the national symbol of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The Southern Ground Hornbill is the largest species of hornbill, native to many countries in southern Africa. Its conservation status is listed as Vulnerable to Critically Endangered, depending on the country. This bird is a triennial breeder, very rare in birds, meaning that they breed every third year. The reason for this is that the young have a dependence on the adult birds for a period of up to two years, depending on the weather. Combine that dependence with a 45-day incubation period and an 85-day fledgling period, and there’s your three years.
The Laughing Kookaburra is from Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania. I had the privilege of hearing this one laugh, and I really did think it was laughing at me! It is a common and familiar bird so accustomed to humans that birds will often eat out of human hands. It is not uncommon for kookaburras to snatch food out of people’s hands without warning, by swooping in from a distance.
I include this mallard for a couple of reasons. I realized that I didn’t know the scientific name, and it was the only mallard I saw that had not paired off with a female. Instead, it was watching the elephants play in the water.
This peacock took a liking to me. He followed me from just outside Flamingo Lagoon through all the construction at the new Australian Outback around to see the kangaroos, giraffes, and rhinoceroses, through Elephant Odyssey, and on to Polar Bear Plunge where he found some young children willing to give him some of their popcorn. Here’s a short video of this little guy tagging along with me:
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
I was successful at getting the Mayans to postpone the end of the world to 3012. Of course, just like the government, that means I kicked the problem down the road. We’ll let our great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandchildren deal with it.
Meanwhile, enjoy some more pictures of wildlife that make the San Diego Zoo their home. I hope I’m not boring you with San Diego Zoo pictures. If I am, well, bear with me; it’s my favorite place to go to get away from it all and relax for a couple of hours.
I’m not sure I would want to run around all my life with three-foot spikes sticking out of my head, but maybe next Halloween I’ll try it.
Several decades ago I worked as a copywriter/editor/proofer for the University Press, the College of Science, and the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. That’s when I overcame my fear of the possessive S, as in Ross’s Goose above.
There are a couple of general rules that you can follow which are good in 99% of the cases. First, if you pronounce the possessive S, then use the apostrophe S. Since I pronounce Ross’s as Ross-es, I spell it with the apostrophe S. A couple of well-known exceptions are Jesus and Texas. Even though you pronounce the possessive S, you don’t use the S after the apostrophe (Jesus’, not Jesus’s, and Texas’, not Texas’s).
Another exception is that you don’t use the ending S if the following word begins with an S. For example, if that were Ross’ Snow Goose, the S that would normally be after the apostrophe gets left off. Too many Ses (S’s?) in a row would make you think of, what? A snake.
Mr. Ring-necked Duck looks like he has a little attitude. I promised him that none of my blog readers would make fun of him, so be sure to LIKE him.
These next two birds might not actually make their homes at the San Diego Zoo because they are free to come and go, visiting the wonderful San Diego area at will. However, if you could make your home at the San Diego Zoo, where you would get regular feedings and have people oooh and aaah over you, well, wouldn’t you?………:)
I’ve always known the Great Egret by that name but recently I read a blog from a blogger in Florida who called it a Great White Heron, which is also one of its common names.
The Visayan Warty Pig is a juvenile, so it does not have a single wart yet.
Once you see an adult, you’ll truly believe that there are faces that only a mother could love.
Here, let me show you one:
The hippopotamus is a young one, born on January 26, 2011, which happens to be my wise old grandmother‘s birthday. She would have been exactly 100 years old, so I have a special fondness for that little hippo.
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
I try to go to SeaWorld, the Zoo, and the Safari Park each week, and I really don’t like to miss one of them. Thus I start early in the week so that if work gets in the way, I’ll have as many done as possible. Today’s trip was to the San Diego Zoo, and it was one of the best visits I’ve ever had. The animals seemed to know that I was coming today and were being very photogenic. And animals that are rarely seen — fishing cat, Andean condor, maned wolf — were out and about. Enjoy!
Gimme some tongue, Baby!
Rhinoceros at the San Diego Zoo
Red kangaroo at the San Diego Zoo
Capybaras (world’s largest rodent) at the San Diego Zoo
Maned wolves at the San Diego Zoo
Polar bear at the San Diego Zoo
Andean condor at the San Diego Zoo
“I love you.” “And I love you, too.”
Malayan tiger at the San Diego Zoo
Albino Burmese python at the San Diego Zoo
Fishing cat at the San Diego Zoo
Coronated fruit dove at the San Diego Zoo
Gharial and reflection at the San Diego Zoo
Baby flamingo at the San Diego Zoo
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
Russel Ray Photos 