Posts Tagged With: science

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 49

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #49

It’s off to the land down under today to find a gorgeous bird who lives near water.  Do you have your hiking shoes and a snack? All right, then let’s head out!

MEET THE PLUMED WHISTLING DUCK!

   Range/Habitat: Northeast Australia/ wetlands, lakes

   Diet: Herbivore: grasses

   Length/Weight: 16-23”/ 1-3 ¼ lb

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

  • Plumed Whistling Ducks have long legs and large webbed feet.
  • They mate for life.
  • Plumed Whistling Ducks mostly feed on grass on land.
  • They have upward pointed feathers on their sides.
  • Plumed Whistling Ducks have orange and black mottled beaks.
  • Both male and female plumed whistling ducks raise the chicks.

We really love these ducks fancy feathers! It makes them look so funny! Edmond would love to share a nice field of grass with these cute little fowl!

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

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 49

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WENESDAY # 49

We’re going to the Northwest U.S. today to meet a freshwater and ocean going fish! That’s right folks; there are fish who spend part of their lives in both habitats! You ready?

MEET THE RAINBOW TROUT!

 

   Range/Habitat: Northern Pacific/ North America

   Diet: Carnivore: insects, fish, snails

   Length/Weight: up to 4 ft/ up to 53 lbs

  Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Rainbow trout are members of the salmon family.
  • Some rainbow trout are called steelheads.
  • Steelhead rainbow trout live their adult lives in the ocean, but spawn in freshwater habitats.
  • Some rainbow trout spend their whole lives in freshwater habitats.
  • Rainbow trout are blue green with yellow and a pink streak down their side.

Rainbow trout are really colorful fish! They have been introduced around the U.S. and now are a popular sporting fish.

 

 

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

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 49

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #49

We’re jetting off to the island of Madagascar today to find one of their many species of chameleons! They may be using their camouflage super powers, so we will have to use our expert observation skills! You ready? Let’s do this!

MEET THE PANTHER CHAMELEONS!

 

   Range/Habitat: Madagascar/ rainforests

   Diet: Carnivore: insects, small animals

   Length: 16-20”

  Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Male Panther Chameleons are the most colorful of all chameleons.
  • They can change color to blend in with their habitat.
  • Male Panther Chameleons also change their colors to attract females.
  • Each Panther Chameleon eye moves independently of each other. They can point them in two different directions at the same time!
  • They have long sticky tongues that they use to capture their prey!
  • Panther Chameleon tongues can be longer than their bodies!
  • They are slow movers.

Panther Chameleons are gorgeous with their bright colors. Did you know that even a blind chameleon could still blend in with its habitat? Cool, huh? We just love chameleons; how about you?

 

 

 

 

 

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

MAMMAL MONDAY # 49

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY #49

Pack your bags, because we’re going to South America today to find a resident of the rainforest! Keep your binoculars and tree climbing gear ready because this primate lives in the trees. Let’s head out on today’s animal adventure!

MEET THE YELLOW-HANDED TITI MONKEY!

   Range/Habitat: Northwest South America/ rainforest

   Diet: Omnivore: fruit, seeds, insects

   Length/Weight: 12-18”/ 2 ¼- 3 ¼ lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Yellow-handed titi monkeys have stocky bodies covered with thick black fur.
  • They have a white fur collar around their neck and bright yellow hands.
  • Yellow-handed titi monkeys have long bushy tails.
  • They are arboreal.
  • They live in small family groups.
  • Yellow-handed titi monkeys pair bond for life.
  • Male yellow-handed titi monkeys help carry the young.

These fluffy little glove wearing monkeys are so cute! Ok, they don’t really wear gloves, but their little yellow hands are great!

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

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 48

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #48

It’s Feathery Friday and we’re going to Africa to meet an inhabitant of the marshes! These colorful birds love wading through the mud to find a tasty meal. So let’s put on our waders and go meet…

MEET THE GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE!

   Range/Habitat: Africa-Southeast Asia-Australia/ wetlands, marshes

   Diet: Omnivore: invertebrates, seeds, grasses

   Length/Weight: 9-11”/ 3 ¼-7 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Greater Painted-Snipes have white eye patches and colorful tan-cream feathers.
  • They use their long beaks to find prey in the mud.
  • Greater Painted-Snipes have long legs for wading.
  • They are not graceful or good fliers.
  • Greater Painted-Snipes are shy and are often hard to spot.
  • Male Greater Painted-Snipes incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.

These fun little birds are built to live in their marshy habitats. How cool is it that the dads do all the work raising the chicks? Way to go dads!

  

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

SUPER SUPRISE THURSDAY # 48

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #48

We’re hoping on a plane to the woods of Northern California. We have our backpacks and walking sticks ready and we’re looking for a tiny amphibian! Tread carefully and look closely because we’re off to meet…

MEET THE CALIFORNIA NEWT!

   Range/Habitat: Western USA (California)/ woods, mountains, wetlands

   Diet: Carnivore: invertebrates

   Length: 5-8”

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • California newts have rough warty bodies.
  • They are brown-red on the top and yellow-orange on their bellies.
  • California newts are also called the orange bellied newt.
  • They are nocturnal (active at night).
  • California newts mass migrate during breeding season.
  • California newts are very poisonous. They secrete a toxin through their skin for defense.

Amphibians are so awesome! And California newts are so small and cute!  These amphibians are best to observe and not touch though; you don’t want to mess with their toxic skin!

 

 

 

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REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 48

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #48

We’re going on a short road trip today to meet one cute but stinky reptile! These turtles inhabit our local area and we’ve even met a few on twitter! So let’s get on our hiking shoes and go looking for these great reptiles!

MEET THE STINKPOT!

   Range/Habitat: Southeastern United States/ wetlands, ponds

   Diet: Omnivore: plants, insects, mollusks

   Length: 3 ¼-5”

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Stinkpots are also known as the Common Musk Turtle.
  • They expel a foul musk odor as a defense mechanism.
  • Stinkpots spend most of the lives in water.
  • They are often covered in algae.
  • Stinkpot males have longer tails than females.
  • They have barbells on their chin that help them find food.
  • Stinkpots use their tongues to breathe underwater.

Stinkpots are such cute little turtles! So many animals use the defense of emitting a stinky smell, so it must work! The best part of these little turtles is their fun name- Stinkpots! Try saying it without smiling!

  

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, reptiles, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MAMMAL MONDAY #48

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY #48!

Grab your safari hats and night vision goggles and let’s head off to Africa today to meet a relative of the hyena! These bug loving mammals may look like their relatives, but they are very different! Are you ready? Let’s go!

MEET THE AARDWOLF!

   Range/Habitat: Eastern South Africa/ desert-scrub

   Diet: Insectivore: termites, insects

   Length/Weight: 26”/ 20 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Aardwolves have longer front legs than back legs.
  • They have 3 stripes on each side.
  • Aardwolves have a crest of fur down their backs. They puff the fur up when they are threatened to look bigger.
  • Aardwolves are nocturnal (active at night) and solitary.
  • They have sticky tongues that they use to eat insects!
  • Aardwolves can eat up to 200,000 termites a night!

Aardwolves are really cool. Unlike their hyena cousins who eat carrion or kill their prey, these guys eat bugs and lots of them! If you could pick, which would you be a carnivore or an insectivore?

 

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

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 47

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #47

We’re putting on our heavy coats, scarves and snow shoes and going to the South Pole to meet today’s feathery friend.  We need to keep our distance because we don’t want to get hit with their stinky defense mechanism. Are you ready?

MEET THE SNOW PETREL!

   Range/Habitat: Antarctica/ oceans-coasts

   Diet: Carnivore: krill

   Length/Weight: 12-16”/ 9 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Snow Petrels have pure white feathers.
  • Snow petrels have black beaks and eyes.
  • They are one of the few birds that live and bread on the Antarctic continent.
  • They live in large colonies.
  • Snow petrels are territorial.
  • Snow petrels defend themselves & territory by spitting a foul smelling oil.

Snow petrels are pretty birds! They survive in a habitat that most animals wouldn’t even think about living in! But man those birds sure can stink up the joint!

  

 

 

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

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 47

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE #47

We’re going bird watching in North Africa today! We’re on the lookout for a brightly colored bird with funny feathers around the beak! Grab your binoculars and let’s head on today’s adventure!

MEET THE BEARDED BARBET!

   Range/Habitat: North Africa/ woodlands

   Diet: Omnivore: fruit, figs, insects

   Length/Weight: 10”/ 2 ½-4 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Bearded Barbets are black and red.
  • They have bristly feathers around their beaks. These feathers give them their name.
  • Bearded barbets are related to toucans and woodpeckers.
  • Bearded barbets live in groups of 4-5 birds.
  • They are plump birds.
  • Bearded barbets use their bills to pound open holes in trees.

These gorgeous birds are funny looking with their feathery beards. Did you know that birds who eat fruit such as figs, help grow more fig trees? That’s right, when these birds poop, they redistribute the seeds and help another tree grow! Neat!

  

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

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