Posts Tagged With: wildlife

Year in Review!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

2012 YEAR IN REVIEW!

Wow! We have one exciting year here at Ellie and Edmond headquarters! We’ve been to every continent on the planet in search of amazing animals and wow did we find some! We’ve met reptiles, mammals, fish and birds in almost every kind of habitat on earth! We sat down and looked over all our stats to see our most viewed post of the year and we’re re-posting it for you today! So let’s take one more adventure in 2012 and head out to meet one nifty reptile again!

AMERICAN ANIMALS WEEK DAY #2

It’s day two of American Animals week and we drove the RV down to the Southwestern United States to find a really cool reptile! Grab your sunscreen or mud and your sunglasses, because it’s going to be a hot one!

MEET THE GILA MONSTER!

   gila monsterRange/Habitat: Southwestern US-desert, scrub, rocky outcrops

   Diet: Carnivore: eggs and small animals

   Length: 14-20 “

   Conservation Status: threatened

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Gila Monsters are one of two venomous lizards in the whole world (the other is the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard.)
  • They brightly colored to ward of predators.
  • Gila Monsters have a forked tongue like a snake and it helps them “smell” for prey.
  • They inject venom into their prey when they bite. They have special glands in their lower jaw that stores the venom.
  • Gila monsters’ tails store fat so they can survive when food is scarce or when they hibernate in the winter.
  • Gila monsters have bumpy heads. Those bumps are part of their skull.
  • They are not harmful to humans, despite their bad reputation! So Gila Monsters aren’t so monstrous after all!

We think Gila monsters are super cool! These amazing reptiles are protected here! That is good news, because it sure would be a shame if we didn’t have this neat lizard to see!

  


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

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

e e reindeer

We’re taking the week off here at the E & E Headquarters to enjoy the holiday and work on some new ideas for the new year!

We just wanted to say THANK YOU to all of our followers, readers and fans for supporting us and reading the blog! We are looking forward to an even Big and Better 2013!!

We want to leave you this week with the story of Alfie the Christmas Tree from John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together! Remember to say a prayer for the wind and the water and the wood and those who live there too this holiday!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, holidays, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

ANIMAL HOLIDAY WEEK DAY # 5

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HOLIDAY ANIMAL WEEK

Our last day of holiday week keeps us in Europe to meet another famous bird from the Twelve Days of Christmas song! These birds come in pairs! So let’s get our binoculars and head out on today’s adventure!

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MEET THE TURTLE DOVE!

turtle dove   Range/Habitat: Europe-Africa/ woodlands, fields

   Diet: Omnivores: seeds, insects

   Length/Weight: 9-11”/ 3-6 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Turtle doves form pair bonds.
  • They are related to doves and pigeons.
  • Turtle doves migrate. They winter in Africa.
  • Turtle doves have beautiful gray, brown and pinkish colors.
  • They feed on the ground.

Turtle doves are gorgeous little birds. Because they form lifelong pair bonds, they are often a symbol for true love. And we love that about turtle doves!

 turtle dove2turtle dove3

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

HOLIDAY WEEK DAY # 4

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HOLIDAY ANIMAL WEEK

We’ll be spending the next two days in Europe bird watching for two birds who are very famous during the holidays! Apparently you are supposed to give these to your true love. We think it would be better to take your true love bird watching with us! Let’s head out!

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MEET THE GRAY PARTRIDGE!

gray partridge   Range/Habitat: Europe-West/Central Asia/ grasslands, farms

   Diet: Omnivore: seeds, insects

   Length/Weight: 12”/11-16 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Gray Partridges have tawny heads and grayish bodies.
  • They live in small groups of 15-20 individuals. The groups are called coveys.
  • Female Gray Partridges lay around 16-18 eggs in a clutch.
  • They feed off the ground.
  • Gray partridges nest on the ground.

Gray partridges are neat little birds! We are wondering who came up with the line in the song that says a partridge in a pear tree, since these birds tend to live on the ground. Hhhhmmm… maybe they never met a real gray partridge!

 gray partride3gray partride2

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

DECEMBER CRAFT!!

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

December Craft

Santa Walrus Ornament!

We’re making ornaments this month for craft time and we’re so excited to be making this adorable little felt walrus ornament! Let’s get crafty!

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Materials:

  • Red, white, cream, gray & brown felt (you only need small scraps)
  • Black marker
  • scissors
  • hot glue (to be used by an adult)
  • needle & thread

 

Instructions:

  • Print out pattern (below)
  • Cut pattern pieces out

 

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  • Cut out felt pieces

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  • Draw black dots on the eyes & two nostrils on brown mussel

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  • Glue face, eyes & tusks on walrus
  • Glue Santa hat

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  • Take needle & thread and pull through the hat. Tie a knot in string.

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  • Hang your walrus!

Pattern:

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Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, crafts, education, Environment, holidays, mammals, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HOLIDAY ANIMAL WEEK # 55

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HOLIDAY WEEK DAY #2

We’re staying in the arctic today to meet one large and fat animal! What do you know, they have tusks just like Ellie! Do you have your coats on? Let’s go meet this great holiday animal!

MEET THE WALRUS!

    Range/Habitat: Arctic/water, shoreline

   Diet: Carnivore: shrimp, sea-snails, fish

   Length/Weight: 9 ¾-12 ft/ 1 ¼ -2 ¼ tons

   Conservation Status: data deficient

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Walrus are large marine mammals with flippers.
  • Walrus eat prey off the bottom of the oceans and use suction to eat.
  • They can stay underwater for up to 25 minutes and can dive down to 330ft deep.
  • They are highly social and often are seen in large groups, called herds.
  • Male walruses are twice the size of females.
  • They have rough wrinkly skin and very whiskery faces.
  • Walruses have tusks of ivory. They can grow up to 3 ft 3” long.

Walruses sure are huge and cute! How can you not like their whiskery faces? These blubbery mammals are loud, social and full of personality! They are one of our favorites!

walrus

walrus2

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

HOLIDAY ANIMAL WEEK!

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HOLIDAY ANIMAL WEEK

We’re celebrating animals that are featured during the holidays this week! We’ll be going all over to find animals that live in the north pole or that are part of the holiday culture (i.e. featured in a song). Our first adventure takes us to the chilly North pole to meet a VERY Famous animal, who knows the big guy driving the slay! Grab your coats and let’s do this!

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MEET THE REINDEER!

reindeer   Range/Habitat: North America-Europe-Asia/Tundra-forest

   Diet:  Herbivore: grasses, moss, lichen

   Length/Weight: 4- 7 ¼ ft/ 260-660 lb

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Reindeer are also called caribou.
  • They vary in color and size depending on where they live. Reindeer that live closest to the arctic are white in color.
  • Both female and male reindeer have antlers. Males lose their antlers in the winter.
  • Reindeer antlers are covered in a layer of fur called velvet.
  • Their noses are specialized to warm cold air before it enters their lungs.
  • Reindeers have a four chambered stomach!
  • One of their favorite foods is called reindeer moss.
  • Reindeers are the only mammal that can see ultraviolent light!
  • Some reindeer populations migrate. They can migrate up to 3,000 miles in one year! Whew, they must be tired!

Besides being really neat, reindeer are famous for pulling Santa’s sleigh! We were hoping to meet a real reindeer this year, but we weren’t able to. We are making some antlers out of pipe cleaners though! What’s your favorite thing about reindeer?

reindeer   reindeer2

 

 

 

 

 

We found a reindeer coloring sheet too:

http://www.edupics.com/coloring-page-reindeer-i8663.html

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

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 55

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #55

We’re off to the Galapagos Islands today on the E & E boat to meet a bird who soars in the skies over the ocean! Grab your life jacket and let’s head out on this adventure!

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MEET THE RED BILLED TROPICBIRD!

red billed tropicbird   Range/Habitat: Eastern Pacific-Central Atlantic/ oceans-coasts

   Diet: Carnivore: squid, fish

   Length/Weight: 31-32”/ 21-29 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Red Billed tropicbirds are often found hundreds of miles from shore.
  • They poor swimmers!
  • Red billed tropicbirds plunge into the ocean to catch their prey.
  • They have webbed feet.
  • Red billed tropicbirds have long tail streamers.
  • Red billed tropicbirds are very awkward on land.

Red billed tropicbirds are gorgeous birds! These high fliers were built to spend their lives in the air. We sure would like to be able to fly one day! How about you?

 red billed tropicbird2red billed tropicbird3

 

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

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 55

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #55

We’re heading out our own back door and into the woods to find today’s super surprise animal. As we’re hiking, be on the lookout and keep your distance, because this animal has one stinky defense!

e e woods (2)

MEET THE STRIPED SKUNK!

striped skunk   Range/Habitat: Canada-North Mexico/ woodlands, suburbs

   Diet: Omnivore: fruits, seeds, fish

   Length/Weight: 22-30”/ 5 ½-14lb

   Conservation Status: common

 


Fun Facts:

  • Striped skunks are solitary.
  • They are known for their stinky defense system. Striped skunks will stand on their front feet and spray a predator with a very foul smelling liquid!
  • Striped skunks’ main predator is the Great Horned Owl because the owl has no sense of smell.
  • They are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).
  • Young striped skunks stay with their mother’s for almost a year.
  • Striped skunks winter in dens and burrows.

These stinky little mammals are really cute! It is best to watch them from a distance or from inside the house, you certainly don’t want to encounter the wrong end of these animals!

 striped skunk2striped skunk3

 

 

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

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 55

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 55

We’re taking the E & E submarine out today to meet one of the oceans’ predators! These cartilaginous fish have mouths full of teeth, so we’ll be on the lookout from the safety of the sub!

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MEET THE LEMON SHARK!

lemon shark    Range/Habitat: Eastern Pacific-Western Atlantic/ oceans-near coasts

    Diet: Carnivore: stingrays, fish

    Length/Weight: up to 11 ft/over 400 lbs

    Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Lemon sharks are also called Sharptooth sharks.
  • They are yellowish-brown in color.
  • Lemon sharks can go in brackish waters.
  • They have large blunt noses.
  • Lemon sharks have two rows of long, thin triangular shaped teeth to catch prey with; then rows of extra teeth behind those.

Lemon sharks are fierce predators, but they are also amazing animals. Ecosystems are dependent on top predators in the food chain and without them the oceans would be in big trouble. It is important that we respect sharks and help protect them!

lemon sharks2   lemon shark3

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

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