Environment

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 29

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY# 29

Who’s excited for Friday? WE ARE! We only had to step into our own backyard to find today’s bird! So grab your binoculars and come visit us as we head on a bird watching expedition!

MEET THE RED SHOULDER HAWK!

   Range/Habitat: North America-Mexico/forests, suburbs-near water

   Diet: Carnivore: rodents, small reptiles, birds

   Length/Weight: 17-24”/ 19-25 oz

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Red Shoulder Hawks are raptors.
  • They have long legs and long yellow legs.
  • Red shoulder hawks swoop down from tree perches to catch their prey.
  • They are diurnal (active during the day).
  • Red shoulder hawks are known as a “buteo” hawk, meaning they have broad wings and tails.
  • Both the male and female red shoulder hawk take care of the chicks.
  • You can hear listen to their call.

 

The Red Shoulder Hawk is one of the most common hawks in North America! They can be confused with the Red Tailed Hawk who is broader and larger. Bird watching can be such a fun way to spend an afternoon, grab a bird guidebook and your binoculars and see what you can find!

 

 

 

Categories: Animals, backyard, birds, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

SPRING COLOR COMES TO PIKE NURSERIES!

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SPRING COLOR COMES TO PIKE NURSERIES!

It’s spring and that means nature comes to life with explosions of color! We wanted to go on an adventure to our local Pike Nursery to find some! We had such a good time being silly and finding all the beautiful plants you can plant in your garden! Hopefully this photo journal of our adventure will inspire you to get some of these for your garden!

PINK Gerber Daisies!

 

YELLOW! Double Lemon Calibrachoa!

Ellie loves the purple petunias!

Edmond loves the Shasta Daisy!

PINK! PURPLE! BLUE! Petunias!

We decided to chill on a bench!

PURPLE Ageratum!

Ellie loves hiding in these purple raspberry plants!

YELLOW! Osteospermums!

Osteospermums in Gray & White!

Edmond loves feeling like he's in the jungle!

Pink & Purple Fuschsia!

We love the mixture of colors here!

We found this lovely tree to sit under!! Aaaaaahhh....

After sitting under a tree- we found one to climb! So fun!

We had such a fun time at Pike Nursery! Everyone was so nice! They have so many more plants than what we found too! So get out in to your garden and see what spring color you can include!

Check out the Pike Nursery website for locations and tips!http://www.pikenursery.com/

 

Categories: Atlanta, backyard, Children, Environment, gardens, Local, nature, wildlife | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 29

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE

THURSDAY# 29

Do you have your coats? We’re heading to the mountains of South East Asia today to meet some sheep! It’s Super Surprise Thursday, so let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE BLUE SHEEP!

   Range/Habitat: South East Asia/ mountains

   Diet: Herbivore: grasses, shrubs

   Length/Weight: 4- 5 ft/ 55-175 lbs

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Blue sheep are also called the Bharal.
  • Their slate gray fur has a tinge of blue to it.
  • Blue sheep’s color is perfect to help them camouflage in their rocky mountain habitats.
  • Both male and female Blue sheep have horns. The females have slightly smaller ones.
  • Their horns turn upwards and outwards.
  • Blue sheep are excellent climbers.

 

These beautiful sheep sure are cool! We just love that they can rock climb too! Have you ever been rock climbing? An elephant and horse aren’t really meant for sure adventures, so we’ll watch from the bottom.

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 29

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY# 29

We weren’t sure we could find a crazier fish than last week’s walking catfish, but we were wrong! This ocean dwelling fish has some big pointy teeth that are a bit scary! But don’t you worry they live down in the deep depths of the ocean! Who wants to board our deep sea submersible?

MEET THE SLOAN’S VIPERFISH!

   Range/Habitat: Tropical-subtropical oceans around the world

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, invertebrates

   Length/Weight: up to 14”/ up to 1 oz

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Sloan’s viperfish live deep in the ocean.
  • They are bluish-black in color.
  • Sloan’s viperfish hold the record for largest teeth relative to head size for a fish!
  • Their teeth are so big that they won’t fit into their mouths.
  • They have a long ray that hangs in front of their mouths. It acts a lure for prey.
  • Sloan’s viperfish have photophores (emits light) along their bodies and mouths that attract prey.

 

And you thought walking fish were weird, well how about a fish with light emitting cells and super giant teeth? The world’s oceans are home to most alien and fascinating creatures! The craziest part is that we haven’t even begun to explore the vast waters! Who else wonders what’s down there?

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 29

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 29

We’re off the rainforest again today, but this time in Central and South America! We’re off to find a brightly colored snake that is best seen from a distance and since they live in the trees, that won’t be hard! We hope you kept your binoculars from yesterday because we’re looking up again!

MEET THE EYELASH PIT VIPER!

   Range/Habitat: Central America-South America/ rainforest

   Diet: Carnivore: frogs, lizards, rodents

   Length: 18- 30”

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Eyelash Pit Vipers are arboreal (spend most of their life in trees).
  • Eyelash pit vipers have modified scales above their eyes. These are thought to help them camouflage.
  • They have prehensile tails that they can use to hang on tree branches.
  • Eyelash pit vipers have good binocular (3D) vision to help them navigate through the trees.
  • They vary in color; from orange to yellow to green.
  • Eyelash pit vipers are nocturnal (active at night).
  • They are venomous!

Who says a snake can’t be beautiful? We sure think they are, especially from a distance J! These ambush predators hang out in trees looking for their next meal! We’re glad we don’t live up there with them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

MAMMAL MONDAY # 29

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY # 29

It’s Monday again and we trust that everyone had a good weekend! We’ve found a really cute resident of the rainforests of Southeast Asia to make your Monday a great Mammal Monday! Grab your binoculars because these rodents live up in the trees!

MEET THE PREVOST’S SQUIRREL!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ rainforest

   Diet: Omnivore: fruit, seeds, nuts, ants & termites

   Length/Weight: 5-11’/ 5-18 oz

   Conservation Status: least concern

 

 

Fun Facts:

 

  • Provost’s squirrels are also known as the tri-colored squirrel.
  • Provost’s squirrels are brightly colored with chestnut, black and a body length white stripe on each side.
  • They are solitary.
  • They are tree dwelling squirrels.
  • Provost’s squirrels are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).
  • They have long tails that help with balance.

 

We love these squirrels and their fancy coloration! The rainforests are full of such wonderful creatures! There are so many ways to help the rainforests too, especially recycling! Recycling paper and aluminum cans is easy and it helps our squirrel friends here keep their home J!

 

 

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 28

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY# 28

Man o Man have we found a nifty bird for you today! These birds use echolocation, just like bats to help them get around at night! In fact they are very similar to bats in many ways, except that they are feathery J! We’re off to the rainforests of Northern Central American to meet this bird. Grab your night vision goggles, because they won’t be out during the day!

MEET THE OILBIRD!

   Range/Habitat: Northern Central & South America/ rainforest

   Diet: Herbivore: fruit

  Length/Weight: 16- 19”/ 13-17 oz

  Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Oilbirds are nocturnal (active). They are the only nocturnal fruit eating bird in the world.
  • They live in colonies.
  • Oilbirds roost in caves or underground during the day.
  • They use echolocation to fly at night. They send out sounds that bounce of objects and help the bird navigate.
  • Oilbirds can travel up to 45 miles a night to find food.
  • They love the fruit of oil palms and laurel trees.

 

Oilbirds are super cool! Not only do they fly at night, but they use echolocation. We wonder if they have bat friends or if bats wonder what these crazy birds are doing out at night.

Categories: Animals, birds, Children, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE SEAL!!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE SEAL!!

That’s right folks it’s a day to celebrate seals, our pinniped friends! Did you know that the word pinniped comes from the Latin meaning fin-footed? Cool! We’ll be posting fun facts on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ellie-and-Edmond/254090144618348 and on our Twitter feed @EllieandEdmond!

We’ll leave you with some super cute seal pictures to start your day! YAY!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 28

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY# 28

You just never know what kind of creature Watery Wednesday will bring you! We found a fish that can fly today! That’s right folks; this fish can leap out of the ocean and glide in the air! What? Well let’s hope aboard the Ellie and Edmond boat and check them out!

MEET THE TROPICAL TWO-WINGED FLYING FISH!

   Range/Habitat: tropical- sub-tropical oceans worldwide

   Diet: Carnivore: crustaceans, plankton

   Length: up to 7”

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Tropical two-winged flying fish have large wing-like pectoral (side) fins.
  • They can propel themselves out of the water and glide in the air.
  • Tropical two-winged flying fish can glide up to 12 seconds at a time.
  • They can reach speeds of up to 40 mph. They do this avoid predators.
  • They are dark blue and silver.

We promise you’re not seeing things! These crazy fish can fly and they can go fast! How cool would it be to see a school of them gliding by at top speeds?

 

 

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 28

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 28

Bark! Bark! It’s Reptilian Tuesday and we have fascinating lizard for you today! They make a pretty cool sound for a little animal, in fact it made remind you of a certain four-legged friend that you may have! Put on your sunglasses and your sunscreen because we’re heading to the desert of Southern Africa!

MEET THE COMMON BARKING GECKO!

   Range/Habitat: Southern Africa/ desert

   Diet: Insectivores: termites/ants

   Length: 2 ¼-4”

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

  • Common Barking Geckos live in complex burrow systems that they dig themselves.
  • The males make a barking sound at dusk.
  • They bark to attract females.
  • Common barking geckos are nocturnal (active at night).
  • They are often heard in the desert but rarely seen.

 

Not much is known about these little guys, except that they make a lot of noise for a reptile. You can hear them as the sunsets of the Kalahari Desert. We think it’s super cool that they dig complex burrows for themselves.

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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