D.C. is home to the National Zoo, a magnet for tourists (especially young ones). You’ve all seen the photos of pandas and golden tamarinds and tigers that encourage people to flock to see the animals.

What you may not know, however, is that the grounds of the zoo are open from sunrise to sunset, substantially longer than when the zoo buildings are open. Locals favor the zoo as a safe, quiet place to jog, and if you go in the off-hours, you may find you have the place nearly to yourself.

That was the case for me a few weeks ago, when Rudi and I headed to the zoo to snap a picture with my scavenger hunt sock and an endangered animal. The mammals’ enclosures we passed were all empty (the animals often opt to eat their dinner and then retire for the evening, so it can be hit-or-miss), so we decided to see if any of the outside birds were around.

They were.

Rudi took a bunch of shots before I remembered that I, too, had a camera. Somehow, though, happening upon brightly hued birds reminded me. The one at the top is a Scarlet Ibis.
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