Sep
26
2008

Critters Not Paying Rent at Riverbanks Zoo

by Gabrielle at 7:01 am

I think this is the last of them.  Enjoy!
I just happened to see this not-so-cute caterpillar hiding underneath a leaf as Phil and I walked around the zoo. If I was a bird, I would not want to eat this critter.

I just happened to see this not-so-cute caterpillar hiding underneath a leaf as Phil and I walked around the zoo. If I was a bird, I would not want to eat this critter.

One day, I am going to attempt to take a picture of a bee, get to close to it, piss it off, and get stung. Last time I checked, I am allegric to wasps. Don't want to find out if the same holds true for other winged critters with a stinger.

One day, I am going to attempt to take a picture of a bee, get to close to it, piss it off, and get stung. Last time I checked, I am allegric to wasps. Don't want to find out if the same holds true for other winged critters with a stinger.

I found this guy in the Botanical Garden section of the zoo. I love spiders, I do, but man, getting close enough to take a picture of one freaks me out. Why couldn't God make spiders cute?

I found this guy in the Botanical Garden section of the zoo. I love spiders, I do, but man, getting close enough to take a picture of one freaks me out. Why couldn't God make spiders cute?

I guess this Anole is using the metal of the name plate to warm himself up. Note how he's looking at me.

I guess this Anole is using the metal of the name plate to warm himself up. Note how he's looking at me.

Apparently, the name plates are popular among the Anoles. He's a cutie.

Apparently, the name plates are popular among the Anoles. He's a cutie.

I made Phil take this one because I wasn't about to get that close to the spider. I felt safe with the other Writing Spider cause he had been on the other side of the web. Spiders give me the willies.

I made Phil take this one because I wasn't about to get that close to the spider. I felt safe with the other Writing Spider cause he had been on the other side of the web. Spiders give me the willies.

Popularity: 29%

Categories: America, Animals, Anole, Bee, Caterpillar, Columbia, Lizard, Nature, Riverbanks Zoo, South Carolina, Writing Spider, Zoo, wildlife
CHAT 6 Comments
Sep
25
2008

More Pictures From Riverbanks Zoo

by Gabrielle at 7:00 am

I told you that I took 195 some pictures when Phil and I went to Riverbanks Zoo this past weekend, so it should come as no surprise that all of these posts are zoo related.  I’ll get on to something new soon.  I just haven’t been taking any pictures or videos of anything interesting lately.  The zoo was the first time out and about with my camera in a long time.

I love cats, but I know if Morgan Rose had been this big, she would eaten me alive the first time I told her no.

I love cats, but I know if Morgan Rose had been this big, she would eaten me alive the first time I told her no.

Animals at the zoo seem to be in a perpetual state of sleep. Maybe the zoo keepers feed them sleeping pills.

Animals at the zoo seem to be in a perpetual state of sleep. Maybe the zoo keepers feed them sleeping pills.

I took 16 pictures of this stupid bird(hawk) while he was participating in a bird show, and this is the only one that didn't turn out blurry. His name is Houdini.

I took 16 pictures of this stupid bird(hawk) while he was participating in a bird show, and this is the only one that didn't turn out blurry. His name is Houdini.

A pretty flower I stumbled across.

A pretty flower I stumbled across.

A sleepy Koala. Maybe he is dreaming of the wild he'll never get to live in.

A sleepy Koala. Maybe he is dreaming of the wild he'll never get to live in.

Popularity: 26%

Categories: America, Animals, Columbia, Nature, Riverbanks Zoo, South Carolina, Zoo, flower, wildlife
CHAT 4 Comments
Sep
24
2008

Feeding the Lorikeets at Riverbanks Zoo

by Gabrielle at 7:00 am

I know that it is strange for me to say this, but my favorite part of Riverbanks Zoo is feeding the Lorikeets.  For a dollar I can walk in and feed the cute little birdies some nectar.  The nectar doesn’t last too long, but the birds usually come very close too you and will occasionally even sit on your arm.  This is one aspect that I really liked about the Hangzhou Safari Park in China.  I got to feed all sorts of animals there including Rhinos, Tigers, Monkeys and Lemurs.  The little Monkeys were just adorable.  I remember one trying to steal my water bottle out of my back pocket.  Aside from some of the animals being mistreated there, it is probably one of my favorite zoos.

Me feeding the Lorikeets at Riverbanks Zoo

Me feeding the Lorikeets at Riverbanks Zoo

Usually, the Lorikeets are much more active and will jump on me to get to the nectar when I go to the zoo, but it was late in the day on a Saturday, and they had been fed already by a score of visitors. Most of them were hiding in the foliage trying to avoid the crowd. I’m sure most of their bellies were about to bust.

YouTube Preview Image

Popularity: 26%

Categories: America, Columbia, Lorikeets, Nature, Riverbanks Zoo, South Carolina, Zoo, birds, wildlife
CHAT 3 Comments
Sep
23
2008

The Three Faces of Phil

by Gabrielle at 7:00 am

Phil isn’t too pleased that I am posting these pictures of him because he doesn’t think they are good pictures.  I don’t think they are too bad.  I just thought it was neat that I had three different facial expressions with him sitting in the same place.  And besides, he took this picture of me once, and I posted it without any worries.  His pictures are tame compared to that one. Phil has a habit of taking pictures of me while I am sleeping.  Recently, he took a picture of me that is quite embarrassing, at least in my humble opinion.  Maybe I will churn up some courage and post it later.  Perhaps some comments will encourage me to do so.  :)

The Calmer Side of Phil

The Calmer Side of Phil

The Crazier Side of Phil

The Crazier Side of Phil

A More Normal Side of Phil

A More Normal Side of Phil

Popularity: 19%

Categories: America, Columbia, Riverbanks Zoo, South Carolina, Zoo
CHAT 3 Comments
Sep
22
2008

Turtle Feeding Frenzy at Riverbanks Zoo

by Gabrielle at 7:00 am

Usually, when I go to the zoo, the turtles are just sitting there soaking up the sun, but on Saturday, we happened to show up shortly after they had been fed.  Lucky for us, turtles take a while to eat and I was able to snap a few pictures and a video.  In New Mexico, we had lots of turtles living in our backyard.  It was like a tropical paradise for them with all the plants we had.  They weren’t nearly as big as this guy, of course.  Isn’t he cute?

YouTube Preview Image

Popularity: 22%

Categories: America, Animals, Columbia, Riverbanks Zoo, South Carolina, Zoo, turtle, wildlife
CHAT 1 Comments