rainforests

Hello Little Songbird!

Posted on November 21, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Hello Little Songbird!

After spotting the largest predator in the area we went looking for a little song bird. This gorgeous little was so fun!

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Blue-gray tanager: 

  • Blue-gray tanagers belong in the tanager family. It is the 2nd largest family of birds on the planet. They represent about 4% of all birds.
  • All tanagers live in the new world.
  • They grow about 7 inches long.
  • They are primarily herbivores. They eat fruit and a few insects.
  • They often thrive where there are humans.
  • Blue-gray tanagers color vary by the area they live in.
  • They are listed as least concern by the IUCN.

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We loved watching these little birdies in the trees! They are sooooo cute!

Categories: adventure, Animals, birds, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, rainforests, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hello Bright Colored Bird

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Hello Bright Colored Bird

Hello! We went birding today! We were looking for one of the most brightly colored and gorgeous macaws on the planet. Come meet them with us!

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Scarlet Fun Facts: 

  • There are two subspecies of scarlet macaw. We met the North Central American Scarlet Macaw.
  • They have blue on their wings and not green. They are also larger than their South American cousins.
  • They weigh around 2 lbs and grow up to 32 inches long.
  • Scarlet macaws eat fruits, nuts and seeds.
  • They mate for life.
  • Chicks leave their parents after about a year.
  • They have a life span of around 40-50 years.

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We enjoyed watching these beautiful birds. They are social and intelligent. They are kept as pets, which is often a bad idea. They have long life spans and are very high maintenance. They can also be very destructive.

Categories: adventure, Animals, birds, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, rainforests, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HABITAT WEEK!!

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HABITAT WEEK!

It’s Habitat Week here at Headquarters. We meet so many amazing animals and we talk about their habitats, but never in detail. So we thought it was high time that we learn more about these amazing habitats that make up our planet. First up, tropical rainforests!

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Fun Rainforests Facts:

  •        Tropical Rainforests are found near the equator in South America, Africa and parts of Asia.
  •        Tropical rainforests are warm and humid all year round.
  •         Tropical rainforests have four layers, the emergent (top), the canopy (just below the emergent layer), the understory and the forest floor.
  •         The emergent layer trees grow tall to compete for sunlight.
  •        The canopy houses most of the animal life in the tropical rainforest.
  •         The forest floor is full of decomposing plant material. Not much grows in this part of the rainforest due to lack of sunlight.

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  •         Rainforest cover about 2-6% of the earth’s surface, but are home to numerous species (many of which have not even been discovered)
  •         Tropical rainforests are home to nearly 50 % of all animal and plant species on earth.
  •         Tropical rainforests have helped people, not only do all those plants help produce oxygen for everyone to breath, but many medicines have been derived from plants only found in the rainforests.
  •         The largest tropical rainforest is the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

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Animals you can find in the Amazonian Rainforest:

  •         Jaguars
  •         Ants
  •         Howler Monkeys
  •         Sloths
  •         Tapirs (Check out Ellie’s Coloring Sheet Below)
  •         Forest Eagles
  •         Poison Dart Frogs
  •         Bats
  •         Toucans
  •         Macaws
  •         Capybara
  •         Caiman
  •         Emerald Tree Boas

 

jaguars   capybara

tapir

toucan      howler monkey

The rainforest is an amazing place. It is so full of life and wonderful things to discover. We can’t even begin to pick our favorite thing about this special habitat. What do you love about rainforests? Check out The Rainforest Foundation for ways to help protect rainforests and their inhabitants around the world.

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Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, habitats, nature, rainforests, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 69

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #69

It’s time for that fabulous day of the week when we meet a feathery friend. We’re going to South America to meet a little bird with an extra long bill!

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MEET THE SWORD BILLED HUMMINGBIRD!

sword billed hummingbird   Range/Habitat: Northwest South America/Andes mountains

   Diet: Omnivore: insects, nectar

   Length/Weight:  6 ½-9”/ 7/16-9/16 oz

   Conservation Status: common 

 

Fun Facts:

  •          Sword billed hummingbirds have long bills, up to 4 ½”.
  •          Their bills are longer than their bodies.
  •          Sword billed hummingbirds have dark green bodies.
  •          Sword billed hummingbirds hold their bill vertically when at rest.

These tiny little hummingbirds are crazy looking with their looooooong beaks. Those little beaks must help them get to the good nectar.

sword billed hummingbird2   sword billed hummingbird3

 

 

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

MAMMAL MONDAY # 61

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY # 62

We’re jetting off to Southeast Asia on this Mammal Monday to meet one high flying mammal! Keep your eyes and ears pealed because these apes like to sing! Are you ready?

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MEET THE BLACK CRESTED GIBBON!

crested gibbon2   Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ rainforest-mountains

   Diet: Herbivore: fruit, leaves, shoots

   Length/Weight: 18-25”/10-20 lbs

   Conservation Status: critically endangered

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Black crested gibbons are arboreal (spend most of their time in trees).
  • They have long arms to help them swing through the trees.
  • Black crested gibbons live in small family groups.
  • Male black crested gibbons are black with white cheeks and females are tan with black crests on their heads.
  • Black crested gibbons produce songs, as pairs and as individuals.
  • They are lesser apes.

Black crested gibbons are so gorgeous. Do you know what makes them apes and not monkeys? One key feature is that they do not have tails! Neat!

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Categories: adventure, Animals, apes, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, rainforests, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MAMMAL MONDAY # 60

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY #60

We are off to meet a mammal who lives in a watery habitat in South America! So hop aboard our boat as we float down a river to find one cool mammal!

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MEET THE GREY RIVER DOLPHIN!

grey river dolphin   Range/Habitat: Central America-Northern South America/rivers,

estuaries, coasts

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, squid

   Length/Weight: 4 ½-6 ½ ft/ 77-88 lb

   Conservation Status: data deficient

 

Fun Facts:

  • Grey River Dolphins live in freshwater habitats and estuaries.
  • They have long prominent beaks.
  • Grey river dolphins are very acrobatic.
  • They are small and stocky.
  • They have large dorsal fins.
  • Grey river dolphins are solitary or live in pairs.

Grey river dolphins are amazing animals! Did you know that there were dolphins that live in rivers? We had no idea! We continue to be surprised by all the different animals on our planet!

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Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, rainforests, rivers, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 58

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #58

Birds come in so many colors! We are always amazed by these bright beauties! This Feathery Friday takes us to the rainforests of Indonesia to meet a bright red bird! Keep your eyes peeled!

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MEET THE BLUE-STREAKED LORY!

bluestreakedlory   Range/Habitat: Indonesia/ rainforests

   Diet: Herbivore: pollen, nectar

   Length/Weight: 12”/ 6oz

   Conservation Status: near threatened

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Blue-streaked Lories are members of the lorikeet family.
  • They have a violet-blue streak on their neck and back.
  • They are very vocal and social.
  • Blue-streaked lories have a brush-like tipped tongue to help them gather nectar.
  • They can live up to 28+ years.

We could just watch these little birds all day. They are so funny and outgoing! We wish we could be a bright color like them too!

bluestreakedlory2  bluestreakedlory3

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

MAMMAL MONDAY # 58

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY #58

It’s that amazing day of the week when we go on an adventure to meet a mammal! We’re packing our bags and heading the Amazonian rainforest to find a small monkey who lives high in trees! Grab your binoculars and let’s head out!

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MEET THE SILVERY MARMOSET!

silvery marmoset   Range/Habitat: South America/rainforest

   Diet: Omnivore: fruits, eggs, sap

   Length/Weight: 8-9”/12-13 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Silvery Marmosets have pale silvery fur.
  • They have black tails.
  • They are arboreal (spend their lives in the trees).
  • Silvery marmosets have pink faces and ears.
  • They live in small family troops.
  • Every member of the silvery marmoset family takes care of the offspring.

These tiny little monkeys are gorgeous with their silvery coats of fur. We just can’t get enough of them!

 

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

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 54

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #54

We’re going to the rainforests of South America today to meet one gorgeous and colorful bird! We’ll have to climb to the top to find them! Are you ready?

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MEET THE CHESTNUT-EARED ARACARI!

chestnut eared aracari   Range/Habitat: Central- Northern South America/ rainforests

   Diet: Frugivore: fruit, insects

   Length/Weight: 13-16”/ 11 oz

   Conservation Status: common


 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Chestnut-eared aracari have black feathers with yellow bellies.
  • They live in the canopies of the rainforest.
  • Chestnut-eared aracari have large bills with yellow teeth like looking markings.
  • They are members of the toucan family.
  • Chestnut-eared aracari live in small groups.

We just love these gorgeous birds! Those beaks are just perfect for picking fruit from the trees! What do you think?

chestnut eared aracari3

 

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

FEATHERY FRIDAY GREATEST HITS!

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY GREATEST HITS!

It’s another fabulous Feathery Friday and we have a resident of the Amazon rainforest for today’s animal. Are you ready this little bird with two different names? Well, let’s do this…

MEET THE RED FANNED PARROT!

   Range/Habitat: Northern South America/Amazon Rainforest

   Diet: Herbivore: fruit, seeds, flowers, nuts

   Length/Weight: 14”/ 8 oz

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Red Fanned Parrots are also known as the Hawk-headed parrot.
  • They have red feathers on the back of their necks. They raise the feathers up when threatened or alarmed. It gives them an appearance of being larger than they are.
  • They have long tail feathers also that resemble some birds of prey.
  • Red fanned parrots are found in pairs or small groups.
  • They often nest in tree hollows.

Red Fanned Parrots are really neat little birds! We think they look like lions with their feathers up! We wonder if they know how to roar? We doubt it :)!

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

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