What's THAT?

Now here's an animal I'd never seen before volunteering as a Carnivore Keeper Aid at the zoo. It's called a fossa. It is the size of a really large cat and while feline in appearance in many ways, he has more of a doggie nose, and is incredibly strong. He also is quite agile. Related to the mongoose, not like that's very common either, but at least I'd heard of those.

If you've seen the animated film Madagascar, you've seen a fossa, who co-starred. I just recently saw it, because when you are educating children about animals (which I do at both the zoo and am training to do as a volunteer for the Wildlife Rehab and Education Center), it helps to see every modern animal movie out there so you can help them relate.

We do have clown fish at the aquarium, and when I say "Who here knows what Dora was" all the kids shout, "A CLOWN FISH". But that 's another post....

Take a look.




I love this little guy. On the mornings I worked in the Tiger House making breakfast for the lions, leopards, tigers, cougars and the fossa, he would rapidly pace around in the shape of a figure 8. You see, his little indoor house was right across from the kitchen door and he could see me cutting up and weighing meat for everyone, including him. We used to give him a big white rat on certain days (they are pristine, bread for food and not at all as funky as it sounds) and he'd playfully flip it up in the air over and over. I thought he was starving but apparently he just wanted to party.

As you've guessed, he's a carnivore. And in doing research I've read that they live up to 20 years in captivity... and oddly, can live 60 years in the wild. I'm not sure about that figure, as usually it's quite the opposite. Life is extended in captivity, for obvious reasons -- quality health care, protection from predators, loving care of devoted humans. I have no idea if that's right, but if I get a chance to ask his keeper at the zoo (the guy you hear talking), I'll report back.

My question is, have you ever seen one, and regardless, do you like this one?

The Regal Mr. Goose

Though I have a bear of a sore throat and have been laying low, I had the worst case of cabin fever, and so took a short walk in the park. I brought bread along and saw Mr. Goose, who had eaten some bread and strode to a puddle, left by torrential rains all weekend, for a drink. I decided to try to balance my digital camera and take a quick movie, hoping to capture a little of what I see when I have the privilege of feeding this truly magnificent creature by hand. It just doesn't capture it, but it's still something to see none the less. I also got his unique high pitched honk, which often sounds more like a plainitive wail, on tape. I've tried to describe it before to no avail.

Sometimes I bring cracked corn, but when I bring wheat bread, I make sure to only feed him the soft insides. He doesn't like usually like crusts unless he's in the water and can soften them first, but this time he ate some. He often bites it off with the little Barbie hair comb-like ridges that act as teeth on the back sides of his beak. I think when I start the video you can see a bit of that bread stuck in one side.



I like to think Mr. Goose trusts me. You can see he is very sensitive and notices when other people walk near. That's good, it will keep him out of danger.

This was one of those rare times that I see him out on a bachelor stroll, without Mrs. Goose. I read that Chinese Geese like Mr. G make great watchdogs because they trumpet as any one comes near your property... the four at The Park certainly do. And they also make great lawnmowers, though I'd still bet that horses and cows might beat our the goose for that (but and argument could be made that the goose leaves a LOT less fertilizer than the other two!).

I wish you could get a real sense of just how BIG he is. And he let me touch him once for a millisecond. It was truly the softest thing I'd ever felt.

Below he decided to walk away and eat some greens, which is what he often does in-between bread sessions (it cracks me up that he still has a bit of bread stuck in the corner of his beak). I think he picks up some gravel too, and it all contributes to digestion. These geese are so interesting. They know what's right for their bodies and strictly adhere to that. If only we could all follow those same instincts.

(I could not help but try to close in on his majestic fluffy backside)

Elvis and His Quackless Buds

I'm always delighted to see my boy Elvis when I go to The Park. His world is pretty small. He swims in the long reflection pool, which is the first thing I walk past when I enter the park. Occasionally he's on the grass just across from it, as he has to eat greens, or on the shallow fountain steps that the water rushes over to pour into the pool. He is there often on hot summer nights, so his legs can be in the cooler water, while he sleeps standing up. The rest of the time he perches on the cement ledges on the sides of the pool, to groom and preen and settle his fat fluffy self down for a rest.

I think I've known Elvis for about 2 1/2 - 3 years now. It's very comforting to see him there each visit, like when you go home for the holidays and see that things haven't changed. Over that time I've seen him hanging with different pals - or should I say they hang with him, because he remains the constant, and the other players shift. For a few months last fall I saw him alone. But recently he's been hanging with two red faced Muscovy's and a teenager whose feathers were mostly irridescent green and black. That teen is now almost fully grown and red faced himself (Elvis is rare in that his facial skin is coal black, just like his pompadour)... and I noticed, as you might below, that it seems like the teen (in the middle, the bird I start the clip with) is the most anxious for food of the four.



Aaah youth. The young green former teen was amusing me to no end as he opened his mouth and did his hoarse whisper in his excitement over food. Muscovy's are actually called quacklesss ducks, as indeed, the only sound they make is the hissing noise you could hear if I weren't babbling incessantly over it while filming. Maybe if you play it back once more you can pick it up.

OK, listening back to this I hope I don't sound like the crazy duck lady or something. I'm a former big city celebrity stylist. I do not wear a bubushka and push around an abandoned grocery cart, with only birds for friends. Just sayin'

What saddened me a little was to see that Elvis seems to have been reduced to the bottom of the pecking order. While the young guy in the middle was most aggressive, the other two red faced ducks were on each side of him, getting their share... while Elvis drifted in the background. He knows I will throw some to him, in fact, I try not to obviously favor him (even though I do). I've seen this hovering behavior from ducks before... one who is interested in food but is not part of the gang I'm feeding. But there you often see the order play out as one or two in the gang will chase the hoverer away once I throw a morsel in his direction, even if there is plenty for all. And it seemed that when I threw to Elvis the young buck wasn't happy about it, and Elvis discreetly swam away a little. It made me wonder if Elvis was getting old, and losing his mojo.

I don't know how long ducks actually live. Wikipedia (which we treat as accurate but technically may not be) says 10-20 years but THIS ARTICLE says 7-8. I have also read 3-4. Certainly in this park, there is more protection than out in the wild, so he should make the higher end of estimates. The great circle of life is evident here, just like it is for us... Muscovy's are a hearty bird and have few health issues so I think he'll be around for a long time. Especially if I have anything to do with it.