here's an excerpt from an article in today's Wash. Post. Hooded Mergs
mentioned at end of paragraph.
The first warnings of the earthquake may have occurred at the National
Zoo, where officials said some animals seemed to feel it coming before
people did. The red ruffed lemurs began “alarm calling” a full 15
minutes before the quake hit, zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson
said. In the Great Ape House, Iris, an orangutan, let out a guttural
holler 10 seconds before keepers felt the quake. The flamingos huddled
together in the water seconds before people felt the rumbling. The
rheas got excited. And the hooded mergansers — a kind of duck — dashed
for the safety of the water.
Rich Rieger
Alexandria
