In 1938 there was a huge hurricane along the eastern coast of the U.S. Among the survivors were two giraffes! They were headed to the San Diego zoo, and the (gasp) woman director! (although she wouldn't be allowed such a title for many years). The journey was insured against blowouts, acts of God, tornadoes, dust storms and floods by Lloyds of London. That much is true, but the actual journey comes from the imagination of Lynda Rutledge in her book West with Giraffes. And what a journey it was! Think the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, Hobos ... a young man in need of a job, and a young, hopeful, determined (female) photographer.

Birdology: Adventures with Hip Hop Parrots, Cantankerous Cassowaries, Crabby Crows, Peripatetic Pigeons, Hens, Hawks, and Hummingbirds is by Sy Montgomery, written before her magical The Soul of an Octopus. It, too, is a wonderful read, especially (for me) the chapter on saving two recently hatched hummingbirds. 'Birdology', not to be confused with Ornithology, discusses what makes birds, well, birds. How they interact with each other, with humans, with other animals. What they eat (some like junk food just as much as we do), how they navigate, how they adapt to a changing world. If you've not read any of Sy Montgomery's book, I suggest you do so, soon!

Reading Hermit With Dog