We were heading to David & Karen's house for Super Bowl Sunday. We left early for a brief visit to the Wild Animal Park for an explore. Having an annual pass is incredibly awesome and always gives us something interesting to do.

This was Steve's first trip to witness the ways of the kangaroo. "You come upon an expanse of savanna meadow, where kangaroos and wallabies wander, close enough to touch. They nibble on the grasses, hopping to and fro, and stretch out on their sides to nap in the sun. You stroll among them, sharing their curiosity, perhaps finding a moment of connection with these big-footed marsupials. To engage with the kangaroo is to become one with it, recognizing the wisdom of the mob in looking out for one another with large eyes, acute hearing, and a keen sense of smell."
I wanted him to see the joeys while they were still in their mothers' pouch. Oh man, we were not disappointed.
A big surprise was this tree kangaroo. "In the forest, it is better to be in harmony with the trees than in peril on the ground, and tree kangaroos evolved long, sharp claws for climbing instead of hopping, and the agility and balance to leap from tree to tree. Masters at maintaining the flow of energy, tree kangaroos live and let live by embracing the trees and sleeping 60 % of the time."
A treat was to watch a tiger delight in a seemingly delicious bone.


The new baby cheetahs were out and active. Oh man adorable!
While it was a cold, rainy day, Spring was everywhere we looked.





It also seemed to be a day of birds... some permanent residents and some just guests (like this sweet hummingbird).
Condors are not the prettiest of birds, we both agreed. Yet, Condor Ridge was the ideal spot for a view-filled picnic lunch break.

I love when we discover something new and interesting. Today, it was the bee-eater birds. They are brightly colored, gregarious, and flamboyant. They are fast and fierce as a missile when it comes to securing a meal. Aptly named, these birds fearlessly pluck bees (and other flying insects) out of the air with their strong, downward curved beak, smack the victim’s head on a branch to stun it, rub its rump on a surface to remove the stinger and flush out the toxins, and chow down. So dang cool!

I called this guy the Elvis bird. I was cracking myself up.
The trip concluded in the often missed Wings of the World enclosure. "Enter the winged world of this aviary and find yourself up close to a variety of feathered beauties. You might see a bird dart in front of you and vanish into the protective shelter of a broad-leafed plant. Overhead, wings disturb the air, and your ears fill with chirps, cackles, and hoots, the sounds of flourishing avian life. Some of the species here are rare in the wild, and others are seldom seen in collections. There are no moats, no barriers. You could literally reach out and touch the birds if they would let you. But they won’t! Step too close and they nimbly hop away or flutter to an inaccessible branch. Nonetheless, you are closer to them than would be possible in the shadows of a forest. You are a guest in their enclosure!" And what fun hosts they were.

I'm including this Bighorn Sheep just because the expression makes me smile. Also, I am warning you, this annual pass is good until December. You will be seeing a great deal of posts about this park and later in the month, the San Diego Zoo. I apologize in advance. Enjoy the safari!