Zoos vs Wildlife refuges

I've gone to the raptor programs at the Arizona Desert Museum in Tucson. These are educational in showing the birds in their native terrain doing natural behaviors. Each bird had probably 10 minutes to demonstrate what he could do. The show here at the Wild Animal Park started with a series of birds - some exotic, some native, running full speed through the "stage" area. Our hostess was a knowledgeable lady, but there was definitely a show-biz feel.


I thoroughly enjoyed the flight of the peregrin falcon (I've photographed them elsewhere at raptor programs), the macaws, the incredible parrot mimic and the other birds in the show. And on another day, I might plan to go to all the shows to see the different birds that perform each time. But it definitely had more of a feel of a performance -staged area, large stadium seating, even a trained mouse running behind the hostess done with humor as its goal.

I really want to praise the San Diego zoo. It is truly a world class facility. It has the research and medical personel, buildings, and equipment to save species on the brink of extinction. My first view of a condor was at this zoo. It is still a great place to take your children for them to experience animals whose natural homes are far across the sea. I really appreciate the conservation emphasis and education throughout the park. But it does have the feel of a theme park - like Sea World or Six Flags with animals as the theme.

Henry and I have been visiting both national parks and national wildlife refuges over the last few years. Seeing wild animals in their natural environment, learning when and where to find them, rising at dawn on bitter cold mornings, and staying out till sunset, have definitely spoiled us. Because of some types of wildlife shots, I still plan to visit the zoos both in the Texas area and elsewhere. I've gotten wonderful hummingbird shots and raptor shots at the Desert museum. But the thrill of catching a glimpse of an animal showing up where you expected it to be is a much more profound experience than seeing an animal in a realistic confined area. Children usually do not have the patience to wait for the animals in the wild - the zoo is great for them. But, I'll keep heading out the wildlife refuges, knowing that zoo photography is challenging in its own way, just as is finding animals in the wild in photogenic locations and lighting.