"Happy Bird"

Usually, when I go to the zoo, most of the animals look very uncomfortable. They're either sound asleep, pacing or hiding. Not so at the Jacksonville Zoo. I visited the zoo last summer on a very hot and humid Florida day. I was so surprised to see most of the animals, birds and even the reptiles - being active. This is a beautiful zoo - clean, modernized and everyone looks well taken care of and, like I said, happy!
This is the Protected "Yellow Billed Stork" from East Africa. He was standing very contently in a pool of cool water that was in the shade. Many of the others storks were nearby, preening or eating. This stork is related to the Roseate Spoonbill.
The painting is done with pastels on smooth Bristol. (I recently learned that pastel artwork is called painting! I didn't know that.)