Final Zoo Trips

We have had a pass to the Fort Worth Zoo for the last year.  We made 2 last trips before it expired- the day after school got out and one week later.

 When we go, each child gets to choose an animal they want to see and we make sure to at least see those 3 animals, anything more is just a bonus!

 Flamingos were Arabella's choice on the first trip.

 This fellow came walking up to us as we were standing there.

 Joey wanted to see the lions and just as we got there he was climbing up on his rock.  Joey roared at him and he started roaring away.  He roared several times and then went into what sounded like a coughing fit- do lion's get hair balls?

 Usually feeding the birds is way fun but this time the birds were totally uninterested.  You had to reach out to the far branches to get them to nibble.  Oh well, we tried.

 Lily checking out the fish!

Jon always chooses the snakes- specifically the King Cobra. As an added bonus this trip they had a rat snake of some sort out for touching.  This made for a very happy Jon!

 On our trip the following week, we started at the far end of the zoo so we could see the things we missed the first time. 

 Lily spent a fair amount of time with her legs kicked up for good relaxing.

 Touching the gulf see life-horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, starfish...

 Check out those wing spans. Joey is a red tail hawk, Jon is a barn owl and Arabella is a  perregrin falcon. 

 Lily the calf and...

 two pictures of a super cute Lily the baby! 

 Lunch time in the shade! Great kids!

 These are my favorite birds- Scarlet Ibis.  

I usually just admire them from within the reptile house but I decided we would go outside and enjoy them on the little path as a final hurrah.  Well, they are near the giant tortises/turtles.  I looked over and this one turtle was walking really fast so I call my kids attention to it.  Well, he was moving because he had a goal and a purpose.  He did not pause just right up and on top.  I am sure you can guess what happened.  My kids were now focused on this scene because I had called their attention to it.  And, you would not know it but turtles make noises or at least they do when they are involved in such activities.  Jon thought it was a great sound and began to mimic it.  Then the female turtle did not seem to enjoy the rear attack and began to "swat" kind of with her arms.  The kids say - I don't think that turtle wants the other turtle on its back. My response- "Turtles should not play leap frog.  They are not very good at it.  Who wants to go see the lemurs?" Oh the things you can see at the zoo.

Truthfully, if you come to see us we would gladly take you to either the Dallas Zoo or Fort Worth Zoo.  They both have their high points. But I can not promise you will encounter the turtles like we did. ;)