Birds evolve different shaped bills for specific purposes.
The ibis has evolved a long, thin, curved, bill to more easily retrieve that cellphone that dropped between the driver’s seat and the center console.
Rüppell’s griffon vulture
Vultures are known as scavengers or opportunistic feeders. This one just caught a bug*.
Speaking of opportunistic vultures and bugs, you should really update (or stop using) Symantec/Norton Antivirus immediately. Not tonight, not tomorrow, but right now. Technical details here: http://googleprojectzero.blogspot.fr/2016/06/how-to-compromise-enterprise-endpoint.html .
* OK, a mealworm is not technically a bug, but I’d like to see you find a more apt photo on short notice.
Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi)
Having spent several days reviewing the post-Brexit and pre-election news articles, this stork has determined that, contrary to reporting, neither the US nor UK is “a country divided”.
Both countries do, however, have an unchecked vocal asshole problem.
This stork will not be migrating northward anytime soon.
Prairie Dog playing Troiles and Cressida
“Nothing, but our undertakings; when we vow to weep
seas, live in fire, eat rocks, tame tigers; thinking
it harder for our mistress to devise imposition
enough than for us to undergo any difficulty imposed.”
Otter
Actually, they like to attack all the other otters.
Otter
Well, and they like to attack other otters.
Otter
But they really just want to attack their ball, not you.
Otter
Grown up otters can be scary!
Otter
Grown up otters swim.
While I’m glad I brought my water proof camera, I feel somewhat stupid that I didn’t bring goggles so I couldn’t actually focus the thing underwater. There were a *lot* of out of focus shots.
Otter
Also, baby otters can fly.
Otter
But of course, you really go Nurtured by Nature to play with the otters.
These are some baby otters that are strong enough to knock over a fully grown human.
Ring Tailed Lemur
Feeding the ring tailed lemur was easier because dried cranberries don’t have nervous systems.
Feeding Fennec Fox 2
… and this is me feeding the fennec fox. I had a lot more trouble because I didn’t grip the mealworms tightly enough.
Apparently, I was afraid of hurting them … as I fed them to a fox.
Yeah.
Feeding Fennec Fox
This is Bruce feeding a fennec fox …
Three Banded Armadillo
I’m only vaguely aware of the show, but I am led to believe that this is a Poké Ball.
Sloth
This sloth also wants my camera. I let her get closer because, frankly, they’re a lot easier to dodge.
Red Ruffed Lemur
This lemur wants my camera
Armadillo
There’s this place called Nurtured by Nature and it is one of the few non-AZA accredited places that I let use my photos for free. The next several I share will be from there.
Unlike zoos and sanctuaries, Nurtured by Nature is one of a very few places that let you play with and feed the animals while also making sure that the animals are safe and healthy.
This is me feeding a grape to an armadillo.
Ring-tailed Lemur
Sometimes the light shines just perfectly into the lemur exhibit.
Deep Infrared Duck
This is an example of why I converted my backup camera to “supercolour” infrared rather than going with the deep infrared. Since supercolour sees from orange into the deep infrared spectrum, you get a *lot* more light. With deep infrared only, you’re looking at a much narrower band of the spectrum and get a lot more noise in the image.