Author Archives: Ellie and Edmond ©

About Ellie and Edmond ©

Explorers, Adventurers, Educators and Best Friends. We love all animals and love to share cool info about them! Join us and learn!

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 53

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #53

Let’s head off to Europe today to meet a little bird who is an expert at camouflage. We’ll need our night vision goggles to catch these night flying birds! Are you ready for a night adventure?

MEET THE EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR!

Range/Habitat: Europe-Asia-Africa/ forests, grasslands

Diet: Insectivore: flying insects

Length/Weight: 10-11”/ 1 ¾-3 5/8 oz

Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

European Nightjars are nocturnal.
They have silent flight.
European nightjars have brown molted colored feathers that are perfect for camouflaging in with the ground.
They do not build nests, but rest on the ground.
Male European nightjars are territorial.
European nightjars winter in Africa.

European Nightjars are such gorgeous birds and man you can hardly spot them when they are resting in leaves and twigs! Camouflage is one of favorite defense mechanisms! We may just have to do a post of awesome camouflage photos!

Categories: adventure, Animals, birds, Children, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: adventure, animals, birds, children, conservation, education, environment, nature, science, wildlife | Leave a comment

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

We hear at Ellie and Edmond headquarters want to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!

We want to give thanks to all those working around the world to save wild animals and their habitats!

Now we shall stuff our faces with with apple pie!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Thanksgiving | Tags: adventure, animals, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 53

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WENESDAY # 53

We’re going scuba diving today to meet a cartilaginous fish who lives on the bottom of the ocean floor! So grab your fins and wet suit and let’s take a dive to meet…

MEET THE THORNBACK RAY!

Range/Habitat: Eastern Atlantic-Mediterranean oceans

Diet: Carnivore: shrimp, crustaceans

Length/Weight: up to 35”/ 4 ½-8 ¾ lb

Conservation Status: near threatened

Fun Facts:

Thornback Rays are dark brown with cream spots.
They are also known as Thornback skates.
Thornback Rays have spines on their backs and undersides.
They live on the ocean floor.
Female Thornback rays lay eggs on the ocean floor.

Thornback rays not only have the typical venomous spine but they have those sharp thorns all over their backs. We sure think they are neat, but we’ll look but not touch!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: adventure, animals, children, education, environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Leave a comment

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 53

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #53

Today’s reptile can be found in Eastern Australia, so let’s head to the land down under! Grab your hiking boots and walking stick and let’s head out to meet…

MEET THE LACE MONITOR!

Range/Habitat: Australia/ forests

Diet: Carnivore: birds, eggs, reptiles

Length: 5-6 ft

Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

Lace monitors are gray-bluish with yellow spots.
They have long claws for climbing.
Lace monitors have long necks.
Lace monitors are solitary.
They are Australia’s second largest lizard.
Female lace monitors lay their eggs in a termite mound.

Lace monitors are super cool lizards. We were wondering if they would make tree climbing buddies. What do you think?

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | 6 Comments

MAMMAL MONDAY # 53

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY #53

Today we’re going to Southwest America today to meet a teeny tiny mammal! So grab your gear and let’s head out to make a new friend!

MEET THE HISPID COTTON RAT!

Range/Habitat: Southwest United States-North South America/ mountains,

grassy

Diet: Omnivore: grub, plants

Length/Weight: 5-8”/ 3 5/8- 8 oz

Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

Hispid Cotton Rats are active day and night
They have stiff, coarse fur.
Hispid Cotton Rats are solitary.
They dig burrows.
Hispid Cotton Rats make nests of grass and plants.
They are excellent swimmers.

Hispid cotton rats are adorable little members of the rodent family. What do you think? Are you a rodent fan?

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife | 1 Comment

NOVEMBER CRAFT!!

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

NOVEMBER CRAFT!

FINGERPRINT ART!

Get your ink pads, sketch pads and fingers (or hooves or paws) ready for this month’s craft.

We’re making fingerprint fall scenes!

Materials:

Ink pads in various colors (we found ones for $1 at Michael’s)
Markers, crayons or colored pencils
Paper

Instructions:

1) Draw out a tree (or whatever base makes you happy)

2) Cover your tree in fall colored leaf finger prints (this is the fun part)

3) Add finger prints for animals and use your markers to add faces, feathers & tails.

Remember, we want to see your creations! Post them here or on our Facebook or Tweet us!

Categories: Animals, Children, crafts, Environment, nature, wildlife | Tags: animals, art, children, crafts, nature, wildlife | 1 Comment

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 52

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #52

It’s Feathery Friday and we’re going to another tiny island today, this one is the southwest Pacific Ocean! So let’s hop aboard a boat and set sail to this tiny island and explore their rainforest to find…

MEET THE KAGU!

Range/Habitat: New Caledonia/ rainforest

Diet: Carnivore: insects, lizards, beetles

Length/Weight: 22”/ 32 oz

Conservation Status: endangered

Fun Facts:

Kagus are flightless birds that live on the ground.
They have large crests on their heads.
Kagus dig for prey in the ground.
They have long legs and can run fast.
Kagus are bluish-grey in coloration.
Kagus have special feathers that make a powder that cleans and waterproof them.
They have excellent vision.

Kagus are such beautiful birds! We love their crests! Who knew there were so many flightless birds in the world?

Categories: adventure, Animals, birds, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: adventure, animals, birds, children, conservation, education, environment, nature, science, wildlife | 1 Comment

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 52

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #52

We are so happy to be back on dry land today! We’re going to the Wild West of North America to meet a handsome ungulate. Let’s grab our hiking gear and walking sticks and set out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE MULE DEER!

Range/Habitat: West North America/ mountains, forests, grasslands

Diet: Herbivore: plants

Length/Weight: 2 ¾-7 ft/ 120- 460 ft

Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

Mule deer are gray-brown in winter and rusty brown in the summer.
Male mule deer have antlers that they shed once a year.
Mule deer have black tips on their tales.
They are also called the Black Tailed Deer.
They have very large ears.
Mule deer are related to White tailed deer.

We just love Mule deer! They are majestic looking, especially the males with their large antlers! Do you love deer? What’s your favorite species?

ORANGUTAN AWARENESS DAY!

ORANGUTAN AWARENESS DAY!

We are sporting orange today and going to the rainforests of Southeast Asia to celebrate one of the most special mammals and great apes on the planet! These amazing apes are gorgeous, intelligent and unfortunately endangered. So today we are going to share some fun facts, photos and resources and how you can help protect these special creatures!

Orangutans are great apes.
There are two species, the Bornean and the Sumantran.
Orangutans are solitary in the wild.
Orangutans are arboreal (spend most of their lives in trees.)
They are frugivores.
Orangutans are highly intelligent.
Baby orangutans stay with their mothers for around 8 years, the longest of any primate.
Orangutans have extremely long arm spans, up to 7 feet from finger tips to finger tips.
Orangutans’ feet are built just like hands and help them climb in the trees.

There are several organizations that are working very hard to ensure that orangutans have a future in the wild. Their rainforest home is rapidly disappearing mainly due to palm oil plantations. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of the leading institutions working to solve this issue. Check out their website!