Showing posts with label Henry Doorly Zoo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Henry Doorly Zoo. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Head in the Sand

I'm thinking we need to build an animal enclosure. Those pasture fences just aren't doing the trick.

I haven't heard any reports of animal escapees at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha lately. The same cannot be said about the animals on the County Line. We are having a heck of a time keeping cows, heifers and bulls where they are supposed to be this spring.

Randy is fresh out of ideas. He and Jake have fixed fence - more than once. He knows the pastures aren't nearly as lush and productive as last year. We could definitely use a rain to get them green and growing. But there is plenty there to eat. The cattle don't need to be exploring their take-out options.

I realize my idea is not the most cost effective solution. Randy is hoping, however, that he will not have to resort to again "catering" the cow's meals like the zookeepers bringing hay to the ostriches at the Omaha zoo. Randy & Jake thought their stint as the bovine equivalent to pizza delivery guys was over for the season.

From our perch on the zoo's Skyfari, it certainly looked like their livestock was ready to belly-up to the hay bar.


It doesn't look like the ostriches have the option of foraging for their own grub in their dirt-packed enclosure. But the cows are another story. Didn't their mothers teach them they need to grow up and fend for themselves?

I guess it could be worse. We could be trying to keep these guys in - though I don't think they moved once in the time we went up and back on the Skyfari.

They might take out a fence or two if they decided to visit the neighbors.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

A Little Guilty


I must admit: I felt a little guilty playing tourist in Omaha while our hosts were off making a buck. But I guess there have been plenty of times in our collective lives when I've been the one working and the other two have been playing (Consider the cleaning of a wedding reception site while the aforementioned two were jetting their way to a honeymoon).

So, I got over my guilt fairly quickly.

But then it recurred when we visited Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo. Jill has loved zoos and aquariums since she was a little girl. This place had both. Thankfully, Jill & Eric had already made a visit to the zoo, so at least I wasn't seeing it first.

The gorillas were a favorite stop. This one looked like "The Thinker" as he chomped his breakfast.

We weren't just looking at the gorillas. They were looking at us.

This guy made a couple of little girls jump when he slammed himself onto an observation dome and startled them. I don't think he was mad - just curious.

But my favorite place was the Butterfly and Insect Pavilion. Randy had to find a place to sit while I looked for butterflies who weren't just hanging out by the windows.

Success!

I also captured a hummingbird at the pavilion. OK, I didn't really "capture" it, but I thought it was pretty good to get this guy on "film." They are fast!

This iris in the Garden of the Senses was heavy with a shower from a sprinkler. I wasn't complaining when I got sprinkled a little myself.

And here we are in the Rain Forest (or as close as we will probably ever get).


If Omaha is in consideration for your summer vacation, we give the zoo two thumbs up.

Our friend gives it two big ears up.