Posts Tagged With: science

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

WATERY WEDNESDAY GREATEST HITS!!

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY GREATEST HITS!

Happy Watery Wednesday everyone!  Today’s fish is long, lean and full of teeth! But don’t worry they don’t think people are tasty! Phew!

MEET THE GREAT BARRACUDA!

   Range/Habitat: tropical-sub-tropical waters worldwide/ reefs,

shallows, mangroves

   Diet: Carnivore: fish

   Length/Weight: up to 6 ½ ft/ up to 110 lbs

    Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Great Barracuda are long and lean fish.
  • They have powerful jaws full of sharp, knife like teeth.
  • Great barracuda are ambush predators. They stay relatively still and swim forward in one fast move to grab their prey.
  • They’re usually solitary, but juveniles often school together.
  • Great barracudas have few predators, mainly sharks.

Great barracudas are intimidating fish, with their long bodies and mouths full of teeth.  But we think they are pretty awesome! How about you?

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

GREATEST HITS REPTILIAN TUESDAY!

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY GREATEST HITS!

We’re going to Egypt today to revisit a reptile with a bad reputation on this day of greatest hits! Grab your gear and let’s head off to North Africa, but remember to keep your distance from this snake!

MEET THE EGYPTIAN COBRA!

   Range/Habitat: Northwest Africa and East Africa/ desert and

grasslands

   Diet:  Carnivore: small mammals, snakes, birds and eggs

   Length: 3 ½-8ft

   Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

  • Egyptian Cobras are highly venomous snakes.
  • They are nocturnal (active at night).
  • They are known to be aggressive and are quick to defend themselves.
  • Egyptian Cobras will “stand up” and spread open their hoods to make themselves look bigger.
  • Egyptian cobras are highly territorial and will often fight each other for territory.
  • Their venom is fatal to humans if not treated.

Egyptian cobras are quite intimating but are awesome! Remember that every animal has a place on this earth and even the ones that seem scary belong in their habitat! Just think, if we didn’t have snakes, we’d have tons and tons of rats and mice! They’re all part of the food web!

Recently an Egyptian Cobra made the news when she escaped from enclosure at the Bronx Zoo. Luckily she was found curled up in a corner of the reptile house!

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

MAMMAL MONDAY GREATEST HITS!

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY GREATEST HITS! 

We’re on vacation this week, but we’ve left you with a week of our greatest hits and the first stop is the chilly north! Enjoy!

Is it chilly outside or is it just us? We’ve traveled up into the cold arctic to find today’s animal! So put on your coats, gloves, scarves and hats and let’s meet this very furry mammal! Snow shoes ready? Come meet…

MEET THE MUSK OX!

   Range/Habitat: Northern Canada-Greenland (Arctic)/tundra

   Diet: Herbivore: grasses

   Length/Weight: 6 ¼-7 ½ ft/450-900lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Musk Ox get their names from their strong odor.
  • They have double coats to keep them warm in the cold arctic. The outer coat protects them from snow and rain. The soft undercoat provides insulation.
  • Musk Ox look larger than they are, because of their thick fur coats.
  • Both female and male musk ox have large, broad, curved horns.
  • Musk Ox are more closely related to goats and sheep than other oxen.
  • They live in herds that are led by a dominant female.
  • Musk ox form circles around their calves when threatened by predators.

Musk ox are large extra furry mammals! You need all that fur to stay warm in the cold arctic winters! They are not animals you want to challenge either, being charged by a musk ox does not look like fun!

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

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: , , , , , , , , , | 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: , , , , , , , , , | 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: , , , , , , , , , , | 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: , , , , , , , , , | 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: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 52

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

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?

 

 

 

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

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