In Photos dot org

Engarde! Construction continues in Cork

Will the construction work in Cork ever end? They just finished digging up the end of Washington Street and Grande Parade when they dig up that busy corner again.

Not quite as bad as the ESB or Bord Gais running a trench through brand new tarmac and leaving a broken road surface behind.

This shot is from the Grand Parade where brickwork is being laid into the ground around the original fountain that was recently restored there. Pics of that to follow!

American Bald Eagle

This bird, the American Bald Eagle, took my breath away when I saw it at the zoo. He looked so majestic and dignified, despite the fact that he was surrounded by bars in a large enclosure.
The shot is at the extreme end of the Canon 75-300mm zoom and it’s a little soft. I wish I could have retained more detail from the beautiful downy neck.
This bird is of course the national symbol of the United States.
Pictured in Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago.

I have a ton of photos to post from the St. Patrick’s Day Festival here in Cork. There are street performers and drama, markets and stalls and a rich mix of cultures present and it was a great experience.
The best news? It all happens again today if you missed it yesterday!

White Owl

An owl pictured inside it’s enclosure at Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. The faint lines are the thin bars of the cage.
I love the eye!

If you have a moment, check out Glassey Alley, Ryan’s new photoblog!

The Mean Look

Is this a buzzard? I really should have taken note of the signs near the enclosures! Moments after I took this photo he was thrown some raw meat and went at it with gusto.
Pictured in the Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day. It rained, it snowed, it was cold. Brrrr! I stayed in with family and had a lovely dinner, delicious chocolate Swiss roll and relaxed for the day. Sorry, no photos of the parade this year, but here are some photos of the 2004 parade, the last one I was at!

Long Legged Bird

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!

Jealousy

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

Grooming the Monkey

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.

Protests at Lincoln Park Zoo

Protests at Lincoln Park Zoo

Protests at Lincoln Park Zoo

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.

Lion .. King of Lincoln Park Zoo

Lion .. King of Lincoln Park Zoo

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.