God help anyone who finds this picture through Google. I wonder what they were really looking for!
Matt, any idea what kind of bird this is?
Pictured in the aviary at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo.

In other news, I received an email from GE Health. My photo of a skateboarder is on their website and will be displayed in Times Square in April!

Do animals feel emotion? Do they feel joy and sadness, regret and elation or even jealousy and envy?
This little fella eyed the bigger mound next to him with what I’d swear was envy. Does anyone know what kind of animal he is?
Pictured in Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo.

Later.. if you wondered what Meerkats do when they’re underground, you should read this :)

When you’ve had a hard morning climbing branches and swinging from tree to tree, what better way to relax than have your mother run her fingers through your fur and pick out the ticks and insects.
Pictured in Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago.

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago seems to be the centre of protests by animal welfare activists on an on-going basis.
Conditions for the animals in the zoo must be exceptionally bad as animal deaths are reported regularly. It’s a shame, because zoos play an important role in helping endangered animals alive. There must be something wrong at a zoo where 3 monkeys die in one week.

I much prefer Fota Wild Life Park here in Cork as the animals have so much more room to roam.

Since October, the zoo’s two other elephants, two gorillas, a camel and three langur monkeys have died. The monkeys died this week after being transferred to another exhibit.

On the 5th day of our trip to Chicago, Darren took us to Lincoln Park Zoo. I had been there already back in 2003 but this time it was a lot more interesting!
I got some wonderful shots of the animals and birds there, including the human variety who were protesting outside.
Here are two shots of a lion at the zoo. I could describe him as majestic and commanding of presence, but when you see the tiny enclosure they have to live in, it’s hard not to feel pity for them.

Written March 11, 2006 in Words

Just a few moments ago, I received texts from Darragh, Tom and Ryan to tell me that this blog had won Best Photoblog at the Irish Blog Awards!
It’s a good thing I’m not up there because I don’t know what to say except “thank you” to everyone who voted for me. I honestly didn’t expect to win, not when you see the competition I was up against. Crikey!

Looks like Geared Up is blogging the Awards live, and Irish Blogs is the place to go for more!
Congrats Tom! You won the Best Technology Blogger Award!
I see from Irish Eyes that Roger Galligan won “Best contribution to the Irish Blogosphere” which doesn’t surprise me at all. His Irish Blogs and Cork Blogs sites make all our weblogs much more accessible to new visitors and a central point from which to glean what bloggers in Ireland are talking about!
I voted for ya Roger, congratulations to you and the team! :)
More .. pictures on Flickr, and a video of the proceedings too!

I love capturing motion and stillness in one frame and shooting underground in a subway station is perfect because: low light, fast moving train with bright internal lights, waiting passengers.
I think I took this in one of the stations under State Street, Chicago.

Have a great time at the blog awards in Dublin tonight!

Written March 10, 2006 in Words

Sorry, I don’t know! It might be this blog, or it might be any of a number of other excellent blogs shortlisted a few weeks ago.
The blog awards are on tomorrow night in Dublin but unfortunately I won’t be there.
There isn’t much that would keep me away but right now I’d prefer to be in Cork and at home. It’s a happy reason, so don’t worry! I’ll reveal all in time!

Workers pictured in the Apple Store Magnificent Mile, Chicago.
The top of the image is the front and side of the store. This is the store in which I was asked not take photos in 2003!

Small figures run for cover to get out of the downpour.
You’ll be glad to hear that this is the last of my shots from this square for the time being!