FEATHERY FRIDAY # 69

FEATHERY FRIDAY #69

It’s time for that fabulous day of the week when we meet a feathery friend. We’re going to South America to meet a little bird with an extra long bill!

MEET THE SWORD BILLED HUMMINGBIRD!

   Range/Habitat: Northwest South America/Andes mountains

   Diet: Omnivore: insects, nectar

   Length/Weight:  6 ½-9”/ 7/16-9/16 oz

   Conservation Status: common 

 

Fun Facts:

•          Sword billed hummingbirds have long bills, up to 4 ½”.
•          Their bills are longer than their bodies.
•          Sword billed hummingbirds have dark green bodies.
•          Sword billed hummingbirds hold their bill vertically when at rest.

These tiny little hummingbirds are crazy looking with their looooooong beaks. Those little beaks must help them get to the good nectar.

  

 

 

MAMMAL MONDAY # 61

MAMMAL MONDAY # 62

We’re jetting off to Southeast Asia on this Mammal Monday to meet one high flying mammal! Keep your eyes and ears pealed because these apes like to sing! Are you ready?

MEET THE BLACK CRESTED GIBBON!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ rainforest-mountains

   Diet: Herbivore: fruit, leaves, shoots

   Length/Weight: 18-25”/10-20 lbs

   Conservation Status: critically endangered

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Black crested gibbons are arboreal (spend most of their time in trees).
• They have long arms to help them swing through the trees.
• Black crested gibbons live in small family groups.
• Male black crested gibbons are black with white cheeks and females are tan with black crests on their heads.
• Black crested gibbons produce songs, as pairs and as individuals.
• They are lesser apes.

Black crested gibbons are so gorgeous. Do you know what makes them apes and not monkeys? One key feature is that they do not have tails! Neat!

 

MAMMAL MONDAY # 60

MAMMAL MONDAY #60

We are off to meet a mammal who lives in a watery habitat in South America! So hop aboard our boat as we float down a river to find one cool mammal!

MEET THE GREY RIVER DOLPHIN!

   Range/Habitat: Central America-Northern South America/rivers,

estuaries, coasts

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, squid

   Length/Weight: 4 ½-6 ½ ft/ 77-88 lb

   Conservation Status: data deficient

 

Fun Facts:

• Grey River Dolphins live in freshwater habitats and estuaries.
• They have long prominent beaks.
• Grey river dolphins are very acrobatic.
• They are small and stocky.
• They have large dorsal fins.
• Grey river dolphins are solitary or live in pairs.

Grey river dolphins are amazing animals! Did you know that there were dolphins that live in rivers? We had no idea! We continue to be surprised by all the different animals on our planet!

  

 

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 58

FEATHERY FRIDAY #58

Birds come in so many colors! We are always amazed by these bright beauties! This Feathery Friday takes us to the rainforests of Indonesia to meet a bright red bird! Keep your eyes peeled!

MEET THE BLUE-STREAKED LORY!

   Range/Habitat: Indonesia/ rainforests

   Diet: Herbivore: pollen, nectar

   Length/Weight: 12”/ 6oz

   Conservation Status: near threatened

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Blue-streaked Lories are members of the lorikeet family.
• They have a violet-blue streak on their neck and back.
• They are very vocal and social.
• Blue-streaked lories have a brush-like tipped tongue to help them gather nectar.
• They can live up to 28+ years.

We could just watch these little birds all day. They are so funny and outgoing! We wish we could be a bright color like them too!

 

MAMMAL MONDAY # 58

MAMMAL MONDAY #58

It’s that amazing day of the week when we go on an adventure to meet a mammal! We’re packing our bags and heading the Amazonian rainforest to find a small monkey who lives high in trees! Grab your binoculars and let’s head out!

MEET THE SILVERY MARMOSET!

   Range/Habitat: South America/rainforest

   Diet: Omnivore: fruits, eggs, sap

   Length/Weight: 8-9”/12-13 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Silvery Marmosets have pale silvery fur.
• They have black tails.
• They are arboreal (spend their lives in the trees).
• Silvery marmosets have pink faces and ears.
• They live in small family troops.
• Every member of the silvery marmoset family takes care of the offspring.

These tiny little monkeys are gorgeous with their silvery coats of fur. We just can’t get enough of them!

 

 

 

 

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 54

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #54

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?

 

FEATHERY FRIDAY GREATEST HITS!

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 !

ORANGUTAN AWARENESS DAY!

ORANGUTAN AWARENESS DAY!

We are sporting orange today and going to the rainforests of Southeast Asia to celebrate one of the most special mammals and great apes on the planet! These amazing apes are gorgeous, intelligent and unfortunately endangered. So today we are going to share some fun facts, photos and resources and how you can help protect these special creatures!

 

• Orangutans are great apes.
• There are two species, the Bornean and the Sumantran.
• Orangutans are solitary in the wild.
• Orangutans are arboreal (spend most of their lives in trees.)
• They are frugivores.
• Orangutans are highly intelligent.
• Baby orangutans stay with their mothers for around 8 years, the longest of any primate.
• Orangutans have extremely long arm spans, up to 7 feet from finger tips to finger tips.
  
• Orangutans’ feet are built just like hands and help them climb in the trees.

There are several organizations that are working very hard to ensure that orangutans have a future in the wild. Their rainforest home is rapidly disappearing mainly due to palm oil plantations. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of the leading institutions working to solve this issue. Check out their website!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HALLOWEEN WEEK! MONSTOROUS MAMMAL MONDAY!

HALLOWEEN WEEK!

MONSTROUS  MAMMAL MONDAY!

We’re celebrating weird, creepy and feared animals this week as Halloween approaches! These animals haunt your dreams and make you have goose bumps! Ok, these animals are not that bad, but they often have bad reputations! First up we’re off to meet a flying mammal that comes out at night! Grab your night vision goggles and let’s do this!

MEET THE MAURITIAN TOMB BAT!

   Range/Habitat: Central- South Africa/ scrub-savannas

   Diet: Insectivore: insects

   Length/Weight: 2 ¾-3 ½”/ 1 1/16 oz

  Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Mauritian Tomb Bats make a variety of vocalizations (not all audible are to humans).
• They use echolocation to find prey.
• Mauritian Tomb Bats roosts in trees and buildings.
• They roost in small groups instead of large colonies.
• Mauritian Tomb Bats have good eyesight.
• They are nocturnal (active at night).

Mauritian Tomb Bats are really cool. Well, all bats are really cool if you ask us. Most bats eat insects, some eat fruit and yes there are a few who drink blood! Wow! What’s your favorite thing about bats?

INTERNATIONAL SLOTH DAY!

Happy International Sloth Day!

YAAAAAWN! Do you know what animal sleeps 20 hours a day and spends most of their lives upside down in a tree? If you guessed sloth you’re right!!!

We’re celebrating these sleepy creatures today with some fun facts and great photos! Are you ready to head to the rainforests of Central and South America to meet these cute and lazy animals?

• Sloths sleep up to 20 hours a day.
• Sloths are arboreal (they spend most of their lives in trees).
• They only poop once a week; and they do that on the ground to keep the scent away from where they live.
• Sloths have algae that grows on their fur. It helps keep them camouflaged in their habitats.
• They are related to armadillos and anteaters.
• There are two species of sloth; the three toed sloth and the two toed sloth.
• Three toed sloths have two extra vertebrae in their necks that allow them to turn them almost all the way around.
• Sloths eat fruit and leaves.
• Sloths are very awkward on land, but are excellent swimmers.
• The ancient relative of the sloth is The Giant Sloth who was almost as big as an elephant! If you are on twitter, you can talk to Rusty the Giant Sloth from the University of Iowa Natural History Museum (@RustyGiantSloth).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sloths are listed as vulnerable species, mainly due to habitat loss. There is a wonderful Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica that helps protects these wonderful animals. Check them out for more info on how you two can protect our lazy friends too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                   Who’s ready for a nap?