The Queens Zoo

Today was a painfully beautiful day. One of those days you wish for when you book your wedding, or a birthday party outside, or a family reunion picnic. It was perfect. And today was the day we planned our trip with friends to the Queens Zoo. They like zoos just like we do, and wow did we have fun!

We saw alligators basking in the sun . . .



. . . a puma taking a bath . . .



. . . a wise old owl . . .



. . . and this bright parrot.



Then these guys starting charging our toes on the ramp that goes up high over the ground in the aviary. Some of them were jumping off to get to their mother below! It was horrifying and adorable at the same time. They looked like partridges to me, and I know those are hearty fallers. They seemed to drop, get up, shake it off, and then go in search of Mom - who was busy with dozens of other siblings. There were tons!








One even rested our our friend's flip-flop! Those little chicks were about the darn cutest things I'd ever seen.

Here's their Mama.



These pictures of the elk and coyote could have been taken in Yellowstone, as far as I'm concerned.





This guy seemed to have better things to do than be in a petting zoo, but was coping well enough!



A carousel ride topped off our trip.



Then a delicious chicken lunch (sorry partridges!) at Pio Pio on Northern Blvd in Queens rounded out a lovely day. The chicken was roasted to a kind of perfection I'd never experienced before. The cilantro-avocado sauce they served with it had a bite of spice that made anything it touched heaven. Fantastic place. Can't wait to go back. . .