THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, SOIL, PLANTS, WATERS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS.
WE INVITE YOU TO NOTE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AROUND YOU IN YOUR OWN PART OF THE WORLD, AND TO SHARE YOUR OBSERVATIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PURPOSE AND HISTORY OF THE DAILY BUCKET FEATURE, CHECK OUT THIS DIARY: DAILY BUCKET PHENOLOGY: 11 YEARS OF RECORDING EARTH'S VITAL SIGNS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Not that these are rare birds. I rarely get the chance to shoot birds. Not that I shoot birds.
We’re gonna travel back in time to my Phoenix Zoo trip. Why? Because I forgot which computer I dumped all the photos on. I was excited to try out my new camera(at the time) on some birds because it’s hard to get excited about my areas general assortment of LBB’s. And that is why I have no problem declaring myself the Least Bird Savvy Backyard Scientist. I can remember a couple of these species.
I really wanted to get a good shot of this dude, as the plumage is downright psychotropic. But he was is right state that afternoon. He wouldn’t stay still for 5 minutes so I had to settle with this as the best shot.
The flamingos were all wound up that day too. It was clearly nesting season and some of the females that wanted to be left alone on their little mud bowl had to fend off rather randy males. And every time that happened those girls gave them as ration of sass that makes me feel much better about any fight I had with a girlfriend. Some however tried to rise above the fray and get some sleep. But with all this going on at their feet, they had to have one eye open.
The native Arizona section of the zoo is really cool. People get to see animals up close that they don’t want to see camping. But that is another bucket. IIRC, these are burrowing owls.
They were eyeing the prairie dog enclosure with great interest.
There’s a couple places that are enclosed and you can sit on a bench and have the birds walk right up to you. Now,I’m assuming this is a male. From what I gather birds tend to have the males with the best colors. I guess they act like jerks and need all the help they can get attracting a partner. I could be wrong about that, except for those flamingos.
This one was my favorite. Again, sorry for the chain link fence. There’s usually a no go zone between you and the fence that prevents the photographer from getting the lens in one of the openings. But still, the color was striking and that look on their face. Priceless. That’s the look every turkey on the planet will have in about 4 weeks.
What’s up in your neck of the woods?