• Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) : Interviewed Patty Finch, Director and Josephine Martell, head of GFAS’s Captive Wild Animal Protection Campaign
• The National Zoo: Robert J. Lamb, Executive Director of Friends of the National Zoo and Don Moore, Associate Director of Animal Care (photos)
• July 28th: Lowery Park Zoo (Tampa): Dr. Larry Killmar, VP/director of animal collections  (photos)
• July 30th: Big Cat Rescue (Tampa, FL): Carole Baskin, Director &  Jeff Kremer, Director of Donor Appreciation  (photos)
• July 31st: Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary (Gainesville, FL)  Kari Bagnall, Director  (photos)
• August 1st: Suncoast Primate Sanctuary (Palm Harbor, FL)
• August 2nd: Save the Chimps (Ft. Pierce, FL): Jen Feuerstein, Director  (photos)
• August 3rd: Center for Great Apes (Wauchula, Fl): Patti Ragan, Director

Last month we attended the HSUS’s “Taking Action for Animals” conference in Washington, DC.  While in the exhibit hall I ran into Duncan Strauss who hosts “Talking Animals” on WMNF (Tampa’s NPR affiliate).  We briefly spoke and afterwards I realized I haven’t discussed any animal related podcasts so I added that to my list of subjects to write about.

There are a number of animal related podcasts and Duncan’s “Talking Animals” is one that is a regular download for me in iTunes.  Each episode is roughly 30 minutes and is primarily an interview with someone connected to the animal world.  The webpage is located here: http://www.talkinganimals.net/ and as previously mentioned is also available on iTunes as well and I highly recommend checking it out. 

I’ll make future posts on animal related podcasts as I come across other regular podcasts or indivual shows that you may find intersting.

Been busy processing photos from our recent road research trip.  As soon as we got home had a day off and then took in the Dublin Irish Fest http://www.flickr.com/photos/becker271/sets/72157624692092962/with/4879604280/

Have also posted  a few sets from the trip

Big cat rescue: http://www.flickr.com/photos/becker271/sets/72157624709752620/

and our Kayak trip through the Everglades: http://www.flickr.com/photos/becker271/sets/72157624729006294/

Still to come:

• 10,000 Islands boat trip
• Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary
• Suncoast Primate Sanctuary
• Suncoast Bird sanctuary
• Save the Chimps
• Lowery Park Zoo
• National Zoo

In addition, we’ll also be posting some reviews of visits, podcasts, and books/articles – we are hopefully at a point where the blog will be updated at least every week or two

There are a number of events throughout Ohio that offer good photography opportunities.  This is not meant to be a complete list; rather it is a list of events that I’m interested in attending that run between April 1st and the end of September.  I won’t make all of them but will get to a few!  I’ve also included a brief list of my favorite places for nature photography around Columbus. 

We are also putting together our wish list for 2010 zoo and sanctuary research trips.  We will post that by Memorial Day; though we are looking at trips throughout Ohio and the bordering states, as well as potential trips to Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Nebraska.  As always, thanks for your patience during this slow time for Animal Ruminations

April 2010
o 4/3: Gallery Hop (Short North District, Columbus)
o 4/ 10-11: Soap Box Derby Columbus Spring Rally (Grove City)
    http://www.columbussoapboxderby.com/
o 4/23-25: The Encampment (Grove City)
    http://www.grovecityohio.gov/events/encampment/
o 4/24-25: Ashville Viking Festival (Ashland -30 min from GC)
   http://www.ashvillevikingfest.com/enter.htm

May 2010
o 5/1: Gallery Hop (Short North District, Columbus)
o 5/8: International Migratory Bird Day (Multiple Locations)
o 5/23: Raptor Photo Shoot (The Wilds: $99.00, 1:00-3:30pm)
    http://www.thewilds.org/events/bird_by_ear.asp
o 5/29: Zombie Walk (Columbus)
    http://www.myspace.com/zombiewalkcolumbus

June 2010
o 6/5: Gallery Hop (Short North District, Columbus)
o 6/19: Soap Box Derby Columbus Local Race (Grove City)
    http://www.columbussoapboxderby.com/
o 6/19: Midwest Masters Sprints Regatta (Columbus, Cost??)
    http://www.columbusrowing.org/inside/
o 6/25-27: ComFest (Columbus)
    http://www.comfest.com/

July 2010
o 7/3: Gallery Hop (Short North District, Columbus)
o 7/4: Doo Dah Parade & Party (Columbus)
   http://www.doodahparade.com/
o 7/9-11 (weekend #1): Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow (Loudonville, Oh – 2 hrs from GC, $8.00)
    http://www.mohicanpowwow.com

August 2010
o 8/6-8: Dublin Irish Festival (Dublin, OH, Cost TBA)
    http://www.dublinirishfestival.org
o 8/26-28: Balloons and Tunes (Grove City)
    http://www.grovecityohio.gov/events/balloons

September 2010
o 9/4: Gallery Hop (Short North District, Columbus)
o 9/4-10/17 (Sat and Sun + Labor day): Ohio Renaissance Festival (Harveysburg, OH: $19.99 – discount tix are available)
   http://www.renfestival.com/index.html
o 9/17-19 (weekend #2): Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow (Loudonville, Oh – 2 hrs from GC, $8.00)
    http://www.mohicanpowwow.com/
o 9/18-19: Soap Box Derby Columbus Fall Rally (Grove City)
    http://www.columbussoapboxderby.com/

Some of my favorite places to shoot for nature photography – no scheduled events
o Columbus Metro Park: Three Creeks (http://www.metroparks.net/ParksThreeCreeks.aspx)
o Columbus Metro Park: Scioto Audubon (http://www.metroparks.net/ParksSciotoAudubon.aspx)
o Columbus Metro Park: Pickerington Ponds (http://www.metroparks.net/ParksPickeringtonPonds.aspx)
o Columbus Metro Park: Inniswood Metro Gardens  (http://www.metroparks.net/ParksInniswood.aspx)
o Grove City’s Gardens at Gantz Park – pretty small but close to home!   (http://parks.grovecityohio.gov/gantz/)
o Franklin Park Conservatory
o Columbus Zoo
o Cincinnati Zoo

This spring and summer we’re planning visits to facilities in Ohio as well as the states that directly border Ohio!  We’re also hoping for an trip through Florida.

Thanks for your patience during our down time; though I still hope to post a genral article on zoo photography sometime this Spring!

Finally, until further posts, don’t forget to check for updates to our flickrs site, which most recently has pics of the three baby lion cubs at the Columbus Zoo