Bird Mosaic, Panama

Guadalupe, Panama ~ January 11, 2010
Los Quetzales Ecolodge

See today's post on my On the Pavement blog for another bird mosaic at Los Quetzales.

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Snake Terrace Extraordinaire

Playground, Tours Aillaud

Nanterre, Paris, July 2010

This wonderful photo is thanks to my blogging friend VP of Livorno, Italy. Check out his Daily Photo Stream and Livorno Daily Photo blogs. If you want some additional fun, see VP's A Bunch of Benches blog. You will be amazed :) That blog started out as a joke and was later discovered. I have no idea what the inside joke was about, but it now has a following of folks who like seeing a daily morph of the bench theme. Back to the photo above: I have not seen this gargantuan snake myself, but I can imagine how excited I'd be to find it while walking through the city. I also love the treatment of the buildings in the background. Thanks, VP!

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Sea Lion and Salmon Bench, Tacoma

Tacoma, Washington ~ August 28, 2010
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

The sea lions and salmon seem to get along pretty well on the bench outside the entrance to the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington, but don't expect the salmon to be smiling when the two species meet in local waters.

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Giant Panda and Thylacine (Tasmanian Wolf) on a Carousel in Paris

Paris ~ October 14, 2008
The Dodo Carousel, Jardin des Plantes

We still have giant pandas in the world, but only about 1,600 to 3,000 of them, which is not many, especially when they are so hard to breed in captivity and they are not breeding well in the wild. We no longer have the fascinating marsupial - a thylacine, Tasmanian wolf, or Tassie tiger. We can thank modern humans in our egocentric stupidity for eradicating this unique animal (considered to be a pest) in the 1930s. Unsubstantiated reports of their possible existence persisted until the 1960s, but the thylacine was offically listed as extinct in 1982; the rule is that extinction is declared 50 years after the last definitively-living animal has died.

Here's Lee studying the sign near the carousel. I thought the artwork and explanations were terrific, allowing this entertaining carousel to educate and enrich those who cared to take a look. I also thought the drawings were quite nice. I've left the bottom photo very large in case you want to click on it and see the text and the drawings. For other animals on the carousel, click on the "dodo carousel" keyword below.

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Another Greeter

Paris ~ October 14, 2008
Outside the Museum of Natural History (Paleontologgy)
in the Jardin des Plantes

Besides the little creatures all over the facade of the museum, there were three greeters standing at the ready. This proto-something-or-other, perhaps from the Eocene, Oligocene, or Miocene, was much friedlier than he appears. You can see the other two greeters here and here.

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Pelican, Salmon, Seagull

Warrenton, Oregon ~ March 28, 2010

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Blue Horse in Portland

Portland, Oregon ~ April 18, 2010

Northwest 23rd Street

This just goes to show that all spotted ponies are not Appaloosas.

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Alive and Well

Bend, Oregon ~ May 31, 2010

In case any of us were worried about it, this just goes to show that flamingo lawn sculpture is still alive and well.

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Flying Pheasant

Portland, Oregon ~ February 12, 2010

Portland International Airport

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Ten-reais Parrot

On the Amazon, Brazil ~ April 28, 2007

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Frog and Shoe

Naples, Italy ~ April 18, 2004

Naples National Archaeological Museum

It would be nice if I had recorded any information about this stone frog and what culture produced it, but I didn't. As I so often say, I will have to go back.

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Lions and Unicorn on The High Street, Oxford

Oxford, England ~ February 18, 2010

Brasenose College, The High Street entrance

How many lions can you find?

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Amazing Face

Newport, Oregon ~ March 11, 2006

Oregon Coast Aquarium

I think this may be a frogfish cast in bronze and integrated with the rock in the gardens of the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

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Peacocks in Portland

Portland, Oregon ~ August 7, 2010

On an Art Deco building near Pioneer Square

The Charles F. Berg Building

See today's Tapirgal's Daily Image for a full view of this delightful building.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

A Salmon in Tacoma - Imagine That!

Tacoma, Washington ~ May 22, 2004

If I remember correctly, this was right outside a very good sushi place, although I don't think there was any connection.

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Mama Jaguar

Manaus, Brazil ~ April 25, 2007

Jaguar with Cub, life size

For several days I passed this carved jaguar mother and her cub each time I went in or out of our hotel's main door. I was fascinated by the realism obtained by the airtist with the fur's texture and coloring.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Inlaid Ivory Bird

Warwick, England ~ February 17, 2010

Warwick Castle

This beautiful old table top on the dark side of the library was covered with inlaid ivory plants and birds.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.