Doug Kerr
Well-known member
This past Saturday, 2012.04.28, was Earth Day, and the principal celebration in Alamogordo, New Mexico was at the city's Alameda Park Zoo. There were booths from numerous agencies and vendors related to environmental responsibility, and many political aspirants were present as well.
The zoo is known for this extensive bird collection, but two of the most colorful birds were outside the exhibits:
Douglas A. Kerr: Carla and Alamogordo mayor Susie Galea
On the left, Carla, who went "full purple" for the event; on the right, Alamogordo mayor Susie Galea.
The zoo has several bald eagles (the national bird of the United States). Here we see an especially handsome one:
Douglas A. Kerr: Bald eagle
Of course, I should have used a larger aperture to improve the suppression by misfocus of the enclosure mesh.
The state bird of New Mexico is the greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus). Here is a handsome one posing:
Douglas A. Kerr: Greater roadrunner at rest
Here we see another one in stride:
Douglas A. Kerr: Greater roadrunner in stride
The tail-to-the ground posture in stride is the basis for the species' genus name, Geococcyx (earth-tail). (Often the tail is erect when at a temporary standstill, although we do not see that in the previous image.)
More to follow.
Best regards,
Doug
The zoo is known for this extensive bird collection, but two of the most colorful birds were outside the exhibits:
Douglas A. Kerr: Carla and Alamogordo mayor Susie Galea
On the left, Carla, who went "full purple" for the event; on the right, Alamogordo mayor Susie Galea.
Alamogordo has a "commission-manager" form of government, known in most other states that have it as the "council-manager" form. The city commission (like the city council in other states) is elected by the public; the commission elects the mayor from its own ranks. Susie is newly in office as of April, 2012. The city manager, engaged by the commission, is the actual chief executive of the city government; the mayor is more like the "head of state" of a nation.
The zoo has several bald eagles (the national bird of the United States). Here we see an especially handsome one:
Douglas A. Kerr: Bald eagle
Of course, I should have used a larger aperture to improve the suppression by misfocus of the enclosure mesh.
The state bird of New Mexico is the greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus). Here is a handsome one posing:
Douglas A. Kerr: Greater roadrunner at rest
Here we see another one in stride:
Douglas A. Kerr: Greater roadrunner in stride
The tail-to-the ground posture in stride is the basis for the species' genus name, Geococcyx (earth-tail). (Often the tail is erect when at a temporary standstill, although we do not see that in the previous image.)
More to follow.
Best regards,
Doug