Heron at Sunset

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS @ 400mm f/5.6 1/1000

I took this photo near sunset one afternoon during my recent trip to
Sarasota. The heron was slowly walking through shallow water in a
small inlet, looking for fish.

More Monarchs

Monarch Feeding

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS @400 mm f/9 1/320

In this image the monarch's proboscis (feeding tube) is uncoiled
and extended into the flower, allowing the butterfly to extract
nectar.

Monarchs Mating

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS @400 mm f/8 1/250

The woman from the G.Wiz science museum who released the
monarchs (see my previous post) told me that monarchs often
mate almost immediately after emerging from the chrysalis.
Sure enough, two of the newly-released butterflies began
mating on a nearby bush.

Monarchs

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS @300 mm f/8 1/320

On my recent trip to Sarasota, my hotel was right next to the G.WIZ
Hands-On Science Museum. One morning I went out walking and saw
several monarch butterflies on a cluster of flowering bushes at the
side of the museum. I was taking photos when a woman came out of
the museum and started talking to me. She told me she had planted
the bushes, choosing some that would provide food for larvae, and
others with flowers that would attact the adult butterflies.

She then went back into the museum and brought out a box with
screened sides. Inside, attached to the top, were seven or eight
monarch chrysali. During the night butterflies had emerged from
four of them, and were clinging to the sides of the box. She gently
took each butterfly on her finger, carried it to a flower, and
released it to feed.

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS @ 400mm f/8 1/320

Snowy Egret

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS @275 mm f/8 1/400

While in Sarasota, I visited Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary, a
facility where injured birds are cared for, and either released
after being healed, or maintained for life if their injuries
preclude a return to life in the wild. The injured birds were in
enclosures that didn't make for good photography, but an amazing
number and variety of non-captive birds were in the vicinity,
feeding, nesting, and generally carrying on. This male snowy
egret was protecting his nest and mate from other males.

Blue Heron

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS @250 mm f/8 1/125

Chiaroscuro and I just returned from several days at a conference
in Sarasota, Florida. I took this photo one afternoon from an outlook
on a nature trail, and was nearly eaten alive by small biting flies
while I waited as the heron slowly walked closer and closer.
However, I guess it was worth it, because I was able to get
several decent shots.

5/15/05 Update for Massimo, who thought of alligators when I
mentioned being nearly eaten alive. We did see some alligators, but
I kept my distance:

Gargantuan Mondrian

Canon 20D, Canon 100-400L IS @300mm f/8 1/500

Facade of the Baltimore Aquarium

Thanks to everyone who voted for my koala Photo Friday entry!

Spring Fair

The annual Spring Fair at Johns Hopkins University was held this
weekend. Friday, when fair started, was cool and overcast, and
Saturday it rained all day. Sunday, however, was beautiful.
Below are two photos I took while wandering around.

Wipeout

Canon 20D, Canon 24-70L @24 MM f/4 1/800

The children seemed to be having fun, but I wasn't sure about the
pink teddy bear.

Lower Quad

Canon 20D, Canon 17-40L @ 31 mm f/16 1/100

Vendors' tents on the lower quad.