Calgary Zoo 5

This is one of the beautiful, shiny Anthuriums that was growing in the Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo on 13 March 2010. The photo was taken with my old Panasonic DMC-FZ28. Love these plants, with their almost plastic look. The solitary, red spathe is a showy modified bract that can be somewhat leathery in texture. They have such a beautiful finish to them. "Anthurium is a large genus of about 600- 800 (possibly 1,000) species, belonging to the arum family (Araceae). Anthurium can also be called "Flamingo Flower" or "Boy Flower", both referring to the structure of the spathe and spadix." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthurium

The ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo has these beautiful yellow Hibiscus flowers during certain parts of the year. Almost like a big old sun on any dreary day - but today, the sun is shining and it's 4C (39F). Taken on 25 September 2012.

These are large, rather fancy butterflies, and I liked its striped eyes - but not so much its furry body. Taken on 25 September 2012 in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. The tropical butterfly season is over now. Once again, the staff and volunteers did a superb job of putting on a great display of tropical plants and butterflies for us over the summer! I know that I, for one, appreciate this so much - a wonderful chance to see and photograph things I would otherwise never see. "Butterflies in the genus Caligo are commonly called owl butterflies, after their huge eyespots, which resemble owls' eyes. Owl butterflies are found in the rainforests and secondary forests of Mexico, Central, and South America. Owl butterflies are very large, 65–200 mm (2.6–7.9 in), and fly only a few metres at a time, so avian predators have little difficulty in following them to their settling place. However, the butterflies preferentially fly in dusk, when few avian predators are around. The Latin name may possibly refer to their active periods. Caligo means darkness." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owl_butterfly

Photo of this beautiful, ENDANGERED Grevy's Zebra was taken at the Calgary Zoo on 8 September 2012, when I went with my friends from England for the day. "The Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), also known as the imperial zebra, is the largest extant wild equid and the largest and most endangered of the three species of zebra, the other two being the plains zebra and the mountain zebra. Named after Jules Grévy, it is the sole extant member of the subgenus Dolichohippus. The Grévy's zebra is found in Kenya and Ethiopia. Compared with other zebras, it is tall, has large ears, and its stripes are narrower. The Grévy's zebra lives in semi-arid grasslands where it feeds on grasses, legumes, and browse; it can survive up to five days without water. It differs from the other zebra species in that it does not live in harems and has few long-lasting social bonds. Male territoriality and mother–foal relationships form the basis of the social system of the Grévy's zebra. This zebra is considered to be endangered. Its population has declined from 15,000 to 3,000 since the 1970s. However, as of 2008 the population is stable." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%A9vy's_zebra

Photographed in the ENMAX Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo on 25 September 2012. Needed colour and brightness before stepping out into a winter wonderland in a temperature of -14C (windchill -20C)!

I believe this is a Malaysian Blue Clipper butterfly, photographed in the ENMAX Conservatory on 6 October 2012. Would have preferred a more colourful setting, but the chance to get a close shot was too good to miss.

Just a garden flower, seen at the Calgary Zoo on 25 September 2012, to inject some warm colour into my photostream.

Now this good-looking guy is in his element in the snow. This male Snowy Owl lives at the Calgary Zoo with his mate and their three young ones from last year.

One of the beautiful Snowy Owls at the Calgary Zoo. Not sure if this is the adult female or one of the three young ones from last year. I head for these as soon as I get inside the Zoo grounds! Would rather it was a wild one, but these captive ones are all I can get to, other than on a very rare occasion. Happy Feathery Friday, everyone! And Happy Easter, too!