Posts Tagged With: education

Where are E&E?

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Where are E&E?

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We have arrived in our new base camp for our next adventure! Did you guess where we were going? If you guessed Antarctica- you are right! We arrived a day late after a few travel issues, you know getting to the south pole isn’t that easy.

We have a nice camp and a boat that we will use to explore one of the harshest environments in the world. Today we are going to learn some fun facts about the south pole.

Antarctica Fun Facts:

  • Antarctica is the southern most continent on the planet.
  • It is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
  • The continent itself is about double the size of Australia.
  • It is covered in ice that is 1 mile thick!
  • Is it a high and dry habitat. It receives very little rain.
  • Antarctica is uninhabited. A few thousand people call it their temporary home where they do research.
  • There are no reptiles, amphibians or insects in Antarctica.
  • Explorers did not first reach the continent until 1911.
  • The continent is controlled through international treaties. It is not it’s own country.

 

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We were lucky to score a bunk or two in one of the research stations. It is currently summer here! Woohoo! Still- we could freeze our bums off.

 

 

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

Where will the next E&E adventure be?

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Where will the next E&E adventure be?

We heading towards the south, but not to tropical shores.

It is quiet a rugged place so it will not bore.

Get ready to put on your cold weather gear,

As we head to the place at the bottom of the sphere. 

Can you guess where we are? 

Share your answer on our social media sites! 

 

 

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

Warning! Frog!

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Warning! Frog!

We went looking for one neat little frog on our last day here in Costa Rica. Costa Rica has sooooo many amphibians! We found one of the famous poison dart frogs- the Strawberry flavored one- hahaha!

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Strawberry Poison Dart Frog: 

  • These little frogs have warning coloration. Their colors vary on where they live.
  • They eat ants and termites give them their toxicity.
  • Strawberry dart frogs only grow up to around 3/4 of inch to an inch.
  • They are diurnal and tetestrial.
  • They are very territorial.
  • Strawberry poison dart frogs are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

 

We loved spotting these little frogs. They are definitely a look but don’t touch species.

Categories: adventure, amphibians, Animals, Children, conservation, education, nature, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Toucan Toucan!

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Toucan Toucan!

What better animal to meet in the rainforest than the iconic toucan! These bright beaked birds were on our list and we were thrilled to find a few! Come meet them with us!

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Keel-billed Toucan Fun Facts: 

  • Those large colorful bills make up a 1/3 of their body length. The bills are not heavy as they are made up of hollow bone.
  • The bills are covered in keratin- the protein that makes up your hair & nails.
  • These jazzy looking birds have blue feet! Those feet have two toes facing front and two facing backwards to help them grip on branches.
  • Keel-billed toucans are very social. They live in family groups of around 12 individuals.
  • They are omnivores. Fruit makes up most of their diet, but they occasionally eat insects and eggs.
  • Both females and males help rear the chicks. They are born with no feathers and can not see til they’re around 3 weeks old.
  • They are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

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It is so fun to watch the toucans eat fruit they find. They may dissect the fruit first, but often they throw it back whole! They are even known to play ball with fruit- throwing to each other. And just like those howler monkeys- they weren’t sharing! Bummer.

 

 

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

Howling Good Time

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Howling Good Time!

Today we are meeting one loud and awesome mammal today! These tree dwellers know how to make a ruckus! We love it!

Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) howling, in Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Mantled Howler Monkey Fun Facts: 

  • They have long guard hairs on their face. That is where they get their name.
  • These monkeys are large. Males get up to 22 lbs. ‘
  • They are folivores- leaf eaters. They also eat fruit.
  • They are important for the rainforest, as they disperse seeds when they poop.
  • Mantled howler monkeys live in groups of mostly unrelated adults.
  • They have prehensile tails.
  • These diurnal monkeys are built for life in the trees.
  • They can be heard for a few miles away.
  • Mantled howlers are listed as Least Concern by IUCN.

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We had a blast watching these monkeys. They are fairly lazy though. They spend most of their energy eating. Those leaves did look delicious. We were glad we had snacks, because we’re sure they wouldn’t share.

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

Hello Caiman

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Hello Caiman!

We are back from our holiday break! We flew back in to camp and settled in. The next morning we rose early to meet today’s animal! We hope you think it is a cool as we do!

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Spectacled Caiman Fun Facts: 

  • Spectacled caimans are members of the crocodile family.
  • Females are smaller than males. Males can get up to 6ft long and females generally up to 4 ft long.
  • They get their name from the ridge on their head that makes them look like they are wearing glasses or spectacles.
  • They are carnivores.
  • Their scales have ostoderms; bony deposits in their skin that give them an armor.
  • Like other crocodilians, they are built to live in water.
  • They are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

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We think these caiman are super cool! They are not nearly as big as the American Alligator or the Nile Crocodile. Never less, we like to watch them from afar.

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

All About Acorns!

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

All About Acorns!

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, bears, birds, Children, conservation, elephants, nature, science, squirrels, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

We Spy Rosettes!

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

We Spy Rosettes!

We headed to local treehouse to spot the next animal as it is the largest predator in the area. We thought it best to stay out of it’s way, but wow is it a gorgeous cat! Are you ready to learn who we saw?

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Jaguar Fun Facts: 

  • Jaguars are covered in spots called rosettes. These help them blend in with the rainforest.
  • Jaguar rosettes are different than leopard spots. Jaguars have a spot in the middle!
  • They are the largest cat in the Americas, growing up to 7ft long and up to 200 lbs. Wow!
  • They are solitary and territorial.
  • These large cats are more active than other large cats, like lions. They have recently found to be most active as dusk and dawn (crespuscular).
  • They are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

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We loved watching this stealthy predator prowl the forest floor. They do spend most of their time on the ground, but the are able climbers.

 

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One Funny Looking Animal!

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

One Funny Looking Animal!

We went looking for one funny looking animal of the rainforest. Tapirs, with their long snouts look like they might be related to Ellie, but in reality they are related to Edmond! Neat! Today, we are meeting the largest of the tapir family.

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Baird’s Tapir Fun Facts: 

  • These large tapirs can grow up to 8 ft long and weigh over 800 lbs.
  • Their funny looking feet have four toes on the front and three on the back.
  • Tapirs use their long flexible noses for snorkels, sniffing odors in the forest and for finding food.
  • These nocturnal herbivores look for leaves and fruits during the evening hours.
  • They are excellent swimmers. They head to the water when threatened.
  • Once thought to be solitary, it is now believed they live in small family groups.
  • The young stay with their mothers for up to two years.
  • Baird’s tapirs are listed as endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.

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There are efforts to protect these beautiful animals. It would be a terrible thing to lose such a unique animal.

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

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