Tag Archives: Saint Louis Zoo – Saint Louis

Mammal

Seal

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Seal

I find it fascinating that every mammal that adapts to ocean life decides that necks aren’t worth the trouble. The same is true for most aquatic reptiles, though turtles just sort of tuck their necks away instead of losing them altogether.

Yet, sea monsters in ancient books and maps are almost all neck.

Maybe that’s why they died out.

Insect

Fly

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Fly_6

This fly really wants you think it’s a bee. Their strategy works because of the following logic:

1) When being pursued by a predator of little brain, they see the yellow and black stripes and think “OMG! It’s a bee! Better leave it alone!”
2) When being pursued by a predator of rather much brain, they see the yellow and black stripes and think “Hmm, it looks like a bee. But I know that some flies look like bees. Better look that up. OK, it looks like flies don’t stick pollen to their legs like bees do, but maybe it’s a bee that just started it’s day’s work. Flies also have larger eyes and smaller antenna than bees, but that’s only useful if there’s a bee to compare against. Oh! Bees have wings that overlap but flies have wings that stick out. So it’s probably a fly. To be safe though, I should compare it to other bees. Where can I find other bees?”
3) Then, when the predator of rather much brain is look up “bees” on Google Maps, the fly can get away.

Bird

Flamingo

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Flamingo_1

It turns out that Missouri is rather quite humid and, when it rains, the front of the lens can get covered in tiny little water droplets. This is roughly equivalent to a fog filter which I never had until I took this shot and decided that I quite liked the effect. I haven’t taken the time to really experiment with it yet though.

Bird

Duck

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Duck_2

Last year, I took a trip to Missouri for work. As always, I went to the St. Louis Zoo because it’s a pretty awesome zoo. What I did not anticipate was that 1) the zoo would close early … at noon … to prepare for a big event and 2) that it would be pouring rain. Now, I was prepared for the rain because I always keep a camera raincoat in my bag, so my camera was kept nice and dry. Camera rain coats work by using an extremely tight weave of ripstop nylon that is treated with a water repellent.

Ducks stay dry by using an extremely tight layering of feathers coated with a thin layer of oil that serves as a water repellent.

Humans stay dry by having the good sense not to go out in the rain.

I got thoroughly soaked and it took me a good two hours for my clothes to dry out.