Hooting and swimming

On May 11, 2024May 2, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals2 Comments

While both of my sisters were here we went to the zoo on an early Monday morning. It was fairly cool that morning and the siamangs (primates) were out playing.

They were hooting very loudly so turn up the volume and play the video. We could here them across the zoo.

It’s always fun to watch the penguins swimming.

We got up close with this grey crowned crane on the backlot tram tour.

The big guys.

The zoo has an underwater viewing area and you can see the manatees swimming around and eating up close.

Taken from the Zoo Tampa website: The David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center is the first non-profit, acute care facility of its kind specifically dedicated to critical care for wild manatees, and one of just four contracted federally permitted manatee rehabilitation centers in the state of Florida. Since 1991, the manatee care and veterinary team have treated over 400 manatees with more than 230 of those reintroduced into Florida waters.

There were several turtles swimming around in the manatee pools.

In the words of Dory from Finding Nemo – “Just keep swimming”.

Face to face with a dolphin

On May 9, 2024April 30, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn Florida animals, Tampa bay sights, zoo animals8 Comments

Look at that face! It’s not often you get this close up to a dolphin. After our dolphin boat tour my sister and I stopped at the nearby Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home of Winter the dolphin who lost his tail (The movie Dolphin Tale was about him and filmed here). They rescue, rehabilitate and house (if needed) permanently injured dolphins, turtles, otters and other sea critters.

This huge turtle had lost his back legs.

This turtle was hit by a boat and lost his ability to submerge properly. He swims around with his butt in the air.

Some of the turtles that are rehabilitating and will be released soon.

A few of the smaller swimmers.

The ladies on the right got to feed the shark that was in the middle. He was obviously a docile shark since he’s fed several times a day.

This is Nicholas and he came right up to the window. He was found as a young baby stranded on Christmas Eve in 2002 and had 3rd degree sunburns on his back. You can still see the scars on his forehead all the way to his fin.

Debbie was sitting in front of the window and both dolphins came to check her out.

A very short video of a dolphin swimming in the big tank.

Before leaving we walked around on the upper deck where you can see Clearwater to the left and Clearwater Beach to the right.

Not too cold for a quick walk at the zoo

On March 14, 2022March 20, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals1 Comment

On our last day in Utah in January, we checked out of our rental and headed over to Salt Lake City. We had half a day to kill before our flight so we stopped at the Hogle Zoo. It wasn’t too crowded because you know, who goes to the zoo in Utah in the middle of winter? But, there were a few other people there and it was sunny and mild, around the high 40’s. The animals were all out running around.

The meerkats were staying warm in the sun.

Lots of red pops from the plants. The berries looked interesting and I found out the red bulb was some sort of sumac. I haven’t seen these in Florida.

A few of the wild critters roaming around. Yes, another magpie and a Canadian goose high up on a building.

A cool statue.

Some house sparrows all puffed up trying to stay warm.

The zoo had amazing views of the mountains from every spot. There was an interesting park across the way from the zoo. What is that statue? After walking around we headed over to find out.

Fun morning at the farm.

On February 26, 2022February 17, 2022 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals4 Comments

I hadn’t been to Horsepower For Kids (sanctuary/farm) in a long time so I stopped by for a visit at the end of December. All of the baby geese that had grown up in early 2020 were still there making the duck pond a busy place.

They had 2 new canadian geese at the pond. They swam close to the dock and I noticed they both had angel wings. Angel wings is a nutritional deficiency caused by improper diet. It means someone was feeding these geese too much bread when they were young and their wings didn’t grow properly. It can keep them from flying well and that’s probably why they are living here now. At least they have a great home to live in now. That’s why it’s so important not to feed the wildlife bread.

It’s fun seeing all of the different crazy “fowl” running around here.

Some of the other residents.

I was admiring this salad. These guys eat better than I do.

Butterflies are seen all year long here.

Yes, I was attacked by a chicken

On August 21, 2021July 25, 2021 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals2 Comments

I was walking around Horsepower for Kids in June minding my own business when this chicken came running up to me. At first I thought he just wanted to be fed but he jumped up on my leg. I was there early and there wasn’t anyone around. At first I thought it was funny until he did it several times. I’m glad I had my longer lens on my camera and put it in front of my legs to shield him. I didn’t want to hit him with it but was starting to panic a little (says this city girl). I kept backing up but he kept following me. Finally a volunteer came around the corner and said he was getting someone to put him up. After a few quick steps back, he left me alone.

Then I realized he must have been protecting his friend (the naked neck chicken). The naked neck chicken was standing near me when the other chicken started to charge. Looking back, it looked like they were a couple. He must have thought I was going to hit on his girlfriend. What an odd couple.

Speaking of naked necks, there was also one in the regular coop. This was the first time I had seen them here (or anywhere for that matter). I wasn’t sure if there was something wrong with them but I looked them and found out that they are a popular chicken to have, especially in hot temperatures like central Florida.

This chicken was checking out the feeding cart.

Free range, strutting around the farm.

A quick stop to see the funny faces

On August 16, 2021March 11, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals5 Comments

Checking out some pretty white pigeons at Horsepower for Kids (rescue/animal sanctuary/petting zoo/farm) in late June. They weren’t in a cage but they were banded. I guess they know they can get a handout here.

Some of the funny faces.

Looks like this is a baby emu. I wonder where they got this from. They take in all kinds of strays or abandoned animals.

It’s always fun seeing the peacocks running around.

“No, I’m not giving you a kiss” I told him. I was there early so once the kids get there he’ll get lots of attention and snacks. He loves a good scratch.

Cute little fluff balls.

On July 31, 2021July 31, 2021 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals3 Comments

I recently spent a morning at Horsepower For Kids. Walking around the farm, I found a Mom chicken with several tiny babies. They were hanging out around the horse stables looking for bugs. I had to sit down on the sidewalk and watch Mom teaching them how to look for bugs, scratching around in the dirt.

They were so cute, looking so hard at the ground.

I don’t even think they noticed me there.

Aren’t all animals cute when they are babies? Especially little chicks.

After walking around the farm for a while, I came back by the stables before leaving and they were still there. Staring at the dirt.

Hanging out with some funny faces

On February 15, 2021March 5, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals5 Comments

I found some new friends at Horsepower for Kids Sanctuary in late November. The toucan is a fairly new resident and was very friendly (he was surrendered by his owner).

You don’t often see white turkeys.

The ducks were being their usual cute selves in the big pond.

Roosters have a run of the sanctuary. Some are skittish and stay in the bushes and some will walk right up to you.

The big shells were enjoying their breakfast.

This guy was showing off.

Hot morning at Horsepower for Kids.

On September 12, 2020September 12, 2020 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals4 Comments

The ducks were cooling off with a bath at Horsepower for Kids Animal Sanctuary in late June. It made me want to jump in with them and go for a swim.

I decided not to jump in the pond since the geese own the pond and they are aggressive.

Even the tricolored heron was cooling off in the water.

I’m not sure if this white pigeon was a resident or just a visitor. He wasn’t in a cage.

Some of the chickens hanging around.

Jealous of this guy sleeping (maybe not in the dirt though).

Close ups of the faces at the petting zoo.

A Saturday morning walk around the petting zoo.

A fun morning at the petting zoo.

On August 10, 2020August 10, 2020 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals3 Comments

The last time I was at Horsepower for Kids petting zoo/animal sanctuary was in early March. At the end of May I stopped by right after they had re-opened up. I figured this was a good place to get out and stretch my legs and it wouldn’t be crowded. Everything is pretty spread out and there were only a few other people there first thing in the morning. These above juvenile geese were growing up in the safety of a pen with a small pond before being released in the big lake. I realized that they were just eggs when I was there in March and now they were almost grown up. It would have been fun to see them as tiny fluff balls but at least they were growing up to be handsome loud annoying big geese.

The best was seeing the baby peacocks although they were pretty shy and stayed under the bushes. I”m sure the neighbors close by wouldn’t think more peacocks were the best though. So cute!