Laughing Kookaburra, Audobon Zoo, New Orleans, LA, 2007-Jul-21
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Image 2 of the three day series. While taking these pictures of the Laughing Kookaburra, I was squatted down on my heels (ass-to-grass, as they say in the gym). Suddenly the kookaburra, which had been sitting calmly on the rope, flew right at me! As I toppled over backwards, I quickly snapped a photo, which although decidedly unfocused, still hopefully gives you the idea of what it felt like having this bird (who is about 16″ with that tail) flying directly at you.
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.
Laughing Kookaburra, Audobon Zoo, New Orleans, LA, 2007-Jul-21
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The next three days I will post a series of this Australian Laughing Kookaburra. For this photo, he sat on the rope between the sidewalk and the aviary grounds for quite some time, even enduring a small child tugging and swinging on another section of the rope (the poor bird must have felt like he was at sea!).
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.
Western Lowland Gorilla, Audobon Zoo, New Orleans, LA, 2007-Jul-21
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This gal just sat and posed for everyone! Isn’t she gorgeous? She definitely made eye contact with various people, and eventually the male seemed to get a little jealous of the attention she was getting and came closer to crowd as well.
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.
Lioness bathing, Wild Animal Park, San Diego CA, 2007-Mar-19
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This was an interesting experiment. The only camera I had at the time was a small 6 MP point and shoot. I love it, and it’s extremely convenient, but not so handy when the animals are staying far from you. For this, I used up my quarters in the viewing telescope, and put the zoomed lens right up to it. The pic’s not too bad for that! It was cool to see the lioness washing her face just exactly like my little cat does at home, too.
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.
Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron, San Diego Zoo, 2007-Mar-27
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This juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron was attracted to the fish the zookeepers were giving out, so it came pretty close for this nice shot. The egrets and cormorants were much more aggressive in getting the fish, although these guys would swoop in and try hard!
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.
9th Ward New Orleans, Louisiana, 2007-July-22
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It’s two years after Katrina, and while many parts of New Orleans are “up and running” (though still not at previous levels or standards), many parts are also untouched and unrepaired. I took this photo in the 9th Ward section of town, one of the hardest hit.
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.
Yavapai Overlook, Grand Canyon National Park, 2007-May-27
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Another view of Grand Canyon, from the Yavapai Overlook. Even in person, it hardly seems real.
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.
Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, 2007-May-27
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This is looking down the Bright Angel Trail, one of the most famous (if not the most famous) trails in the Grand Canyon National Park. I only went a short way down, but it does continue to the bottom of the canyon, where the Colorado River flows. You can’t even see that from this vantage point, but hopefully you can still get some sense of just how immense the canyon is.
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.
Finch, Wild Animal Park, San Diego, CA 2007-April-25
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This was a lucky shot, and one I love! This finch had to go back and forth from a sturdy branch to trying to mimic a hummingbird at the feeder. I’m not sure he ever did get much nectar out of that feeder, but he did manage to hover for a moment.
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.
Blackfooted Penguins, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA 2007-May-4
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Seth, I took this photo for you and Marcia. They were also at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and pretty hard to catch while swimming - I don’t think I got a single focused shot. But when they were standing around, it was do-able. These guys came from South Africa.
All photos © Amy Friends Stone and all rights reserved.