He kept trying to get in the cages!

These birds are normally very elusive. I think it's easier to capture a bird in flight than it is to get a Roadrunner on the ground. First, you have to see one, then you have to bring your camera up to your eye and find him in your viewfinder, but you can't, because he's gone already. I had chased this guy all over the place, until finally, while I was trying to photograph one in a cage, somebody said to me, "There's one right behind you." So, I turned around and there he was, posing for me. He really made my day!

Tags:   Local Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Palm Desert California

© All Rights Reserved

Tags:   Teddybear Cholla Opuntia bigelovii Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Palm Desert California blinkagain

© All Rights Reserved

Looks like he wasn't too happy with me for invading his privacy.

Tags:   Captive bird Walk-through aviary Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Living Desert Zoo and Gardens COTH blinkagain

© All Rights Reserved

I don't know why "B.E." was in the hospital, but having been hatched in 1970, it's pretty remarkable that he/she is still alive.

Tags:   Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot B.E. Amazona aestiva Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Tennity Wildlife Hospital Shot through glass

© All Rights Reserved

Not that I'm competitive or anything, but I just had to post this before Maureen posted hers. You see, we shot this bird at the same time and those are our reflections in his eye. The catchlight is from the sun, not flash. As you can see, he is striking, but he is much smaller than you would think. I would estimate that he is about 12 inches from his feet to the top of his head.

Tags:   Captive bird Raised in captivity American Kestrel Falco sparverius Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Garden NGC COTH5

© All Rights Reserved