A White-crowned Lapwing shows off its impressive if not gaudy wattles. The species is a Sub-Saharan member of the plover family. This one was caught near Zimbabwe’s Zambezi River. ~ White-crowned Lapwing capture, White-crowned Lapwing © Jerry L. Ferrara
~ Saddle-billed Stork capture © Jerry L. Ferrara from Zimbabwe, Africa
A Mirror Image An inquisitive Waterbuck near Zimbabwe’s Zambezi River pauses pregnantly near a still pool of water casting back a mirror image of itself. ~ Anecdote and Waterbuck capture, A Mirror Image © Jerry L. Ferrara
Ears Galore With ears so largeI do take chargeWith them each dayI locate my preyFor I can hearboth far and nearBut there is moreto ears galoreBlood vessel-denseeach cools and ventsTheir surface largehelps heat dischargeI do confessthey quite expressMy current moodthey do alludeIt’s just my waywith these pinnae ~ Poem and Painted Wolf capture, Ears Galore © Jerry L. Ferrara, Zimbabwe, Africa
Unique I Be Unique I beSome think of meI outwardlyLook canidaeBut it’s not soHyenas knowThat comment’s fauxDogs? Oh, NO! NO!If you’ll assentHear my resentFor my descentIs cat-like bent The Spotted Hyena may appear to be a dog but it is not. While not really a cat either, scientific studies indicate hyenas may share a closer evolutionary relationship somewhere in the ancient past with felines rather than canines. ~ Poem, anecdote and Spotted Hyena capture, Unique I Be © Jerry L. Ferrara
How Silently It Treads A giant ambles the quiet recesses of the wild It’s uncanny how silently it treads Vacant is the view one moment, then magically and mysteriously the behemoth materializes Through the course of its passage there’s not a whisper from the broom In the blink of an eye there’s a hushed departure —- It is incredibly stunning how the largest living land mammal is so adept at moving noiselessly through the environment. ~ Anecdote and African Elephant capture, How Silently It Treads © Jerry L. Ferrara
Vicious Lies His orbs seem kindbut I’ll remindSuch feline eyestell vicious liesThose well-set jawsshould give one pauseHis lips conceala treach’rous dealBecause beneathare rending teethAnd when eyes flareteeth rip and tearSo bewarethat gentle stareFor if you erryou might not fare ~ Poem and African Lion capture, Vicious Lies © Jerry L. Ferrara, Zimbabwe, Africa
The River Horse Oft it’s called the ‘river horse’…misnomers do aboundThe Hippopotamus is, of course,sometimes in rivers foundBut naming it a horse in factis but a fallacyFor the hippos’ genetic trackis not equine, you seeIts closest kin does seem to hailfrom the briny seaAnd thus it is the mighty whaleits nearest lineage be ~ Poem and Hippopotamus capture, The River Horse © Jerry L. Ferrara from the Zambezi River, Zimbabwe
Transitory Views Three transitory sunset views of our closest star. © Jerry L. Ferrara
Allogroom You are a member of my prideAnd so in you I will confideTo stay in ‘touch’ and allogroomA strategy that seems a boonIt keeps us close and healthy, tooPromotes less stress, good vibes ensueAnd with this comes cohesivenessSo for the moment, there’s less stress ~ Poem and African Lions capture, Allogroom © Jerry L. Ferrara