National Zoo Day

Saturday (June 5th) we spent the majority of the day at the zoo with Kate and Rob. The highlight for the kids on the way to the zoo was riding on the metro. We let them put their own metro card in and walk through the gates alone. We had to switch trains (and levels) at Metro Center which was terribly exciting to them! Rob, having gotten home on time Friday night, was a bit jet lagged, so they met us a little later than anticipated at the zoo, so we just plunged right in and started finding animals that were on our must see list. Eventually, Kate and Rob made it and they went with us through the rest of the zoo. It was so hot and humid that day, we were all melting, but thankfully, the sun wasn't directly on us as there was some cloud cover. It never rained and that made it all even better!!

Metro ride

Crossing the street, heading into the zoo
Whoever thought of these misting stations (which are all over the zoo) was a genius. The kids loved them, and quite honestly, I think all the adults were under them at various points as well.
Sleeping Panda, not too exciting.
We spent a long time in the bird house (where Kate and Rob found us) and the kids were fascinated by all of them. Molly loved the toucan, so I caught her with one!

This is some variety of pigeon. Her nest was close enough in the tree that I could have reached out and touched it. The crest was what I loved the most.

Outside the bird house, a ginormous eagle. Great photo. Really, all 5 of us DO go places together!!!
And with Kate and Rob
The flamingo enclosure outside had about 50 birds. This one male was trying desperately to get the egg back on the nest. The docent said it has been off for about 3 days and most likely won't end up hatching. sniff sniff.
Kevin, from the movie UP. Seriously, the sound he made was exactly the one from the movie. Eerie!!!

Finally, on our way back around, the panda was outside eating bamboo. Weirdly, as you drive through residential areas near the zoo (which we did coming in on Friday afternoon) there is bamboo growing all over the place, on sides of roads, etc... Who knew??

By luck, we were part of an impromptu lesson on naked mole rats. Kate was fascinated by them. They are pretty homely.
Big kitty.
Baby gorilla, was so cute!!
Orangutans who were hilarious. Putting on quite a show with a sheet, garbage can, and, well, some poo.