Here's another entry in our series of the best from the Toronto Star's photographers in 2009. This time we look at the wild side.

Richard Thomson of Toronto feeds birds near the pond in front of Nathan Phillips Square on November 13, 2009. Thomson has been feeding the birds at the square two to three days per week for the last five years. (Toronto Star/Steve Russell)

The CF-18 Century Hornet, painted to celebrate the 2009 Centennial of Powered flight in Canada, does a tight turn while a Swan flies along the waterfront on September 7, 2009. (David Cooper/Toronto Star)

Inukshuk swims in the new polar bear exhibit in the new Tundra Trek region at the Toronto Metro Zoo in Toronto in July 31, 2009. The polar bears, a male Inukshuk and two females return after a two year renovation to polar bear exhibit that increased its size five-fold. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star)

Currie, a 9-year-old Havanese, waits miserably to get back inside its owner's home in the Riverdale are, Toronto, December 9, 2009. (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star)

A bird bathes in a fountain outside St. James Cathedral in Toronto on August 10, 2009. (Colin McConnell/Toronto Star)

A dog is decked out in the latest Presidential pouch outerware at Obama's inauguration in Washington on January 20, 2009. (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star)

Peppo waits for some toweling off during the first annual dirty dog wash to benifit the Etobicoke Humane Society on July 1 ,2009. (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star)

This former battery hen has been rescued at the time of slaughter and relocated to Cobble Hills Farm Sanctuary, near Stratford, where at-risk kids are given the chance to be directly involved in healing the hens. Owner Christen Shepherd says the hens arrive nearly bald, thin, weak and unable to walk.

(Randy Risling/Toronto Star)

Swim suit equipped Tactix launches off the dock to a 23 foot leap into the pool during the Big Air Dog Jump, where dogs' jumping distance is measured at the Purina All Star Dog Show on March 22, 2009. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star)