Posts Tagged With: education

Those are some peepers!

Those are some peepers!

After meeting the macaws yesterday, we ran into a small resident of the rainforest. These little amphibians are brightly colored with big red eyes. They also make you jump! Hehehe!

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Red Eyed Tree Frog Fun Facts: 

  • The nocturnal species hide on the under side of leaves during the day.
  • If they are found- they flash those big red eyes and startle any predators!
  • They frog’s other bright colors- including orange feet and blue streaks protect them by confusing a predator’s eye with too much color.
  • These carnivores eat insects they find in the trees.
  • These arboreal amphibians are amazing jumpers! (Say that fast five times 🙂
  • They are not poisonous.
  • Red eyed tree frogs are listed as least concern.

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We love these little frogs. They are so beautiful with their bright green eyes. That splash of blue on their legs make them the fashionistas of the rainforest. Hahaha!

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

Hello Bright Colored Bird

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

Teeny Tiny Bird

Teeny Tiny Bird

After our all nighter looking for frogs, we stayed up a bit longer to find a little bird before napping away the day. This little fast birdie was not easy to spot as it is one of the smallest hummingbirds around.

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Scintillant Hummingbird Fun Facts: 

  • These little birds grow up to around 3 inches long. It is just a little larger than the smallest bird in the world- the bee hummingbird.
  • They have little straight black beaks.
  • Scintillant hummingbirds eat nectar.
  • Males are very territorial.
  • Females build the nests, incubate the eggs and raise the babies.

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These teeny birds are so adorable. They are Ellie and Edmond sized :)!

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

The Real Kermit

The Real Kermit

We went frogging during the evening. Costa Rica is one of the best places for spotting amphibians. We went looking for a very new species and we were not dissappointed.

 

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Diane’s Bare-Hearted Glass Frog: 

  • Glass frogs have transparent skin on their bellies. You can see all of their organs!
  • These frogs are found in the mountains of Costa Rica. They are the first new glass frog species to be discovered in 40 years.
  • It has long thin fingers and toes.
  • They are nocturnal.
  • Males have an almost insect like call they use to attract females.
  • These cuties have white ping pong like eyeballs with black irises that make them look just like Kermit the frog.

 

We often think it is crazy that scientists are still discovering new species. It is so important to protect the wild places on earth so that all animals- known and not known have a healthy habitat to call home.

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

Costa Rica!

Costa Rica!

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Hello and greetings from Central America! We are settling in to our tree house that we are using for base camp. We’re going to learn more about this gorgeous little country today before we begin some of the awesome animals next week! Woohoo!

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Costa Rica Fun Facts:

  • Costa Rica is located in Central America. The capital is San Jose.
  • Costa Rica’s marine areas are larger than its land area.
  • There are 7 active volcanoes in the country. Poas volcano has the 2nd largest crater in the world.

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  • There are 52 species of hummingbirds in Costa Rica.
  • 10% of the world’s butterflies call Costa Rica home. That is about 1,000 species.
  • Costa Rica has a rainy season & a dry season. We are end of the rainy season.
  • Costa Rica contains about 5% of the world’s biodiversity.
  • It borders the Pacific ocean and the Caribbean ocean.

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This is one super neat place full of amazing species! We can hardly wait to meet some of them! See you Monday!

 

 

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

Where will the next E&E adventure be?

Where will the next E&E adventure be?

We are heading off for our next adventure and it’s time to guess where it will be? Tell us here or on our social media and the first correct guess will win an E&E prize.

We are heading to a tropical place!

It has rainforests, volcanoes and beaches at the base!

The coasts meet the Carribbean and the Pacific.

They say it is quiet terrific.

Hummingbirds are all around.

Insects, spiders and butterflies abound.

A quarter of the country is protected.

All those things are connected.

Can you guess where we are? Come on and try! Let’s get this next adventure started!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Halloween Week- Mole Rats

Halloween Week- Mole Rats

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Today we are meeting one cool rodent! It is super cute and creepy!

Demon Mole Rat Fun Facts: 

  • They use their teeth to dig burrows underground.
  • Demon mole rats are solitary and territorial.
  • They bang their heads on their burrows to communicate with other mole rats.
  • They are related to naked mole rats.
  • They live in East Africa and call savanas their home.
  • They have orange teeth.

 

 

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

Halloween Week- Getting Crabby

Halloween Week- Getting Crabby

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Have you ever heard of the Halloween Crab? We hadn’t either! These colorful land crabs remind us of this festive time of year!

Halloween Crab Fun Facts: 

  • They call the Pacific coast home.
  • Halloween crabs have large purple claws.
  • They are nocturnal.
  • They are also known as the Halloween moon crab.
  • Halloween crabs dig burrows.
  • They are herbivores.

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Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

What the Quail?

What the Quail?

We are so excited to meet today’s bird! We have never met a quail before and of course we have to find the ones with the cutest feathers around!

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Gambel’s Quail Fun Facts: 

  • Both males and females have the topknot of feathers on their head. Males have a black patch on their bellies.
  • They are about the size of a basketball.
  • Gambel’s quails are ground dwellers. You can see them running around the ground.
  • They live in groups called coveys.
  • They are omnivores. They eat insects as chicks and graduate to mostly plant material as adults.
  • Females chirp to their eggs before they  hatch and the chicks cheep back to her.

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These funny little quails can fly, but they mostly run around looking for food! They are so neat to watch in their little family groups.

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

Slow Mover

Slow Mover

We headed to the heart of the Mojave Desert in search of one of two species of tortoises! These desert tortoises call this their home and we were thrilled to learn more about them!

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Desert Tortoise Fun Facts:

  • These tortoises spend most of their time in burrows and shelters. They are inactive most of the year. They stay in cool areas to avoid losing water during the heat and they hibernate during the winter.
  • You’ll find them mostly after a rain.
  • They can live up to 80 years.
  • Desert tortoises have sharp claws that help them dig burrows. They can spend 95% of their lives in burrows.
  • Desert tortoises are slow growing. They still are only around 8 inches at 16 years old. They can reach up to 30 inches total.
  • These herbivores are listed as threatened and vulnerable- depending on the population.
  • Their biggest threat is habitat loss.

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These amazing creatures are made for the desert. They can survive a year without direct access to water! WOW!!

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

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