A.O.T.D. (Animal of the Day) Gorilla

With DNA 98-99%, gorillas are amongst the primates most closely related to us. Pretty impressive. I get a kick out of their name which is derived from the greek word Gorillai, which translates as a "tribe of hairy women". Good times!
I decided to just go with a sketch this time, since I liked the way it was going. I really tried to emphasize that upper arm mass they have.

The Birds

A few quick sketches I did at the zoo recently. Turkeys again. I liked drawing them so much last time, I thought I'd go back and do it again. This was on another one of our scorching days out here. I think I really burned my neck from the sun. Now I'm literally a red neck.
While walking back from the turkey area though I was attacked by a bird. I was just walking by this group of trees and I suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of my head followed by the flapping of wings. Just as I turned a little black bird was flying away from me (inches from my head). At first I thought it may have just misjudged it's distance and flew into me, but after repeated attacks I realized this was no accident. It must have been a mother with a nest near by. I can see the headline now 'Pasty midwestern artist pecked to death by 4 inch bird at SF zoo'. I guess I'm just not one with the universe yet....sigh.