Posts Tagged With: science

GREATEST HITS- FEATHERY FRIDAY

It’s that special day of the week dedicated to our feathery friends! So are you ready to head to Central America to meet a duck who doesn’t quack? Let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE MUSCOVY DUCK!

   Range/Habitat: Central-South America/ wetlands, lakes, rivers

   Diet: Omnivore: roots, leaves, fish, insects

   Length/Weight: 26-33”/ 7-15 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Muscovy Ducks have wild and domesticated populations.
• They are not very vocal and only make a few noises, including hisses!
• Muscovy ducks have black and white feathers.
• They have wide flat tails.
• Muscovy ducks perch in trees.
• Muscovy ducks have claws on their feet.

Muscovy ducks are super cute! Who knew there were ducks out there that didn’t quack! Neat! Hiss! Hiss!

GREATEST HITS- SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY

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?

MEET THE 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?

GREATEST HITS- FEATHERY FRIDAY!!

We’re off to Africa today to find a colorful and most famous bird! We all know these pinkies! Have you guessed it by now? That’s right; it’s time to meet a flamingo! Grab your wellies again, we’re going wading!

MEET THE LESSER FLAMINGO!

   Range/Habitat: West-Central-Southern Africa/ wetlands, lakes

   Diet: Herbivore: blue-green algae

   Length/Weight: up to 3 ¼ ft/ up to 4 ½ lbs

   Conservation Status: Near threatened

Fun Facts:

• Lesser flamingos are the smallest of all flamingos.
• They are light to dark pink in coloration.
• Lesser flamingos have long dark beaks.
• They feed at dusk and dark.
• Lesser flamingos live in large colonies. There have been flocks of up to 1 million birds.
• You can see hundreds are of flamingos move together in elaborate courtship rituals.
• Lesser flamingos build mud mounds to lay their one egg on.
• They can live up to 50 years.

We just love flamingos! They’re long legs and bright pink feathers make them one of the most iconic birds on the planet! And yes they do sleep on one leg; it helps them conserve body heat! Hhhmm… we might practice being flamingos, but that is hard with four legs!