Hamerkops

The hamerkop is an African bird whose name means "hammerhead." These photos of the Columbus Zoo's pair are from 2018.

A hamerkop stands on its nest. The bird is about 18 inches tall.

A hamerkop stands with wings spread on part of the viewing deck in the Congo aviary.

I'd love this photo if the bird were clearer. I cropped it close to emphasize the blurry background that came from tracking the flying hamerkop with the camera.

Hamerkops build large nests, especially considering the size of the birds.

A hamerkop carefully adds to its nest.

This is "the hamerkops' post" May 20, 2019. I have not yet seen the birds building this year.

Reflections

There are good reflections

Columbus Zoo trumpeter swan pond. Coulda done better with the focus.

and bad reflections.

Florida manatee (Columbus Zoo, Apr. 2019). I've learned to wear a dark shirt when I expect to be taking pictures through glass. Maybe I should wear long sleeves and gloves, too.

There are reflections of lights.

Asian elephant (Columbus Zoo, Aug. 2018). This could have been a nice shot. 

I bought a circular polarizing filter, which purports to eliminate reflections, for my lenses, but it has limits. For one thing, it significantly reduces the amount of light that enters. When ambient light is low, such as when I'm in the elephant barn, I can hardly see anything through the viewfinder.

There are horrible reflections.

western lowland gorilla (Columbus Zoo, June 2018)

A viewing area that's darker then the exhibit limits reflections, but sometimes there are lighted signs behind the photographer.

sohal surgeonfish (Columbus Zoo, Jan. 2019)

A photo for artistic effect? No, I took the picture for the heck of it. It looks like a double exposure, but it's not. The sloth bear is inside the glass and the rock superimposed on the bear is a reflection of what's outside the glass.

sloth bear (Columbus Zoo, Aug. 2018)

I don't take the picture when I'm aware of a bad reflection, and I like to think I've become more aware over time. Still, I'm not always aware, as the manatee photo shows.

Here are a couple more good reflections.

unknown turtle (Columbus Zoo)

spur-winged lapwing (Toledo Zoo)

Poor Clyde

Last week, I saw the Columbus Zoo's African grey parrots outside for the first time this year. The viewing deck is about five feet above the ground, and I looked down after I heard a rustle followed by a thump-splat. A parrot had made a hard landing and began to climb the mesh.

Clyde climbs.

 Later I learned the parrot's name is Clyde.

Clyde approaches my eye level.

Clyde's tail was in bad shape, and I assumed this year's feathers hadn't come in yet.

Clyde's tail feathers

Then I observed a crime.

A comrade has plucked two of Clyde's tail feathers.

(I assume plucking another's feather is a bird crime. Given the importance of feathers, plucking one from another must be a grave insult at the very least.)

Clyde suffered more harassment.

Keepers arrived and discussed the situation: "I think it's Clyde." "He doesn't fly very well." "Is he bleeding?" They put Clyde into a carrier and took him inside for examination by a veterinarian. 

Large flying fox at the Columbus Zoo

Well, this looks ominous.

Hanging around, as a bat does.

At least we know they aren't vampires. Also, these bats eat fruit. (Why is there a mirror? I don't know; it's not there all the time.)

Here we can see the bat's body. It hangs by its back feet, and each hand has one finger with a hook at the end.

What's not to love?