SUPER SUPRISE THURSDAY # 48

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!

 

 

 

We're on a Mission! Code Name: Conservation! Starts Today!

Reblogged from The Adventures of Ellie and Edmond©:

IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE!! GET THOSE PHOTOS IN! WE'RE SO EXCITED!!

We’re on a Mission!

Code name: Conservation!

That’s right we’re on a mission to catch you in the act of conservation! Here at the Ellie and Edmond headquarters we talk about the small ways you can help animals, such as recycling!

Now we want to see you doing great things for the planet!

Read more… 167 more words

Come enter our photo contest! We want pictures of you! :)

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 40

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY# 40

We’re heading back to the rainforests of Central America to meet a cute little bird with a long name! Better get your climbing gear on because these birds like the canopy! Let’s do this!

MEET THE VIOLACEOUS TROGAN!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Mexico-Central South America/ rainforest

   Diet: Omnivore: insects, fruits, invertebrates

   Length/Weight: 9-10”/ 1 5/8-2 3/8 oz

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts

• Violaceous trogans live in the canopy (near the top) of the trees.
• Male violaceous trogans have beautiful blue heads with a yellow breast.
• Female violaceous trogans are mostly gray.
• Violaceous trogans have striped tails.
• They nest in old trees or in ant or termite mounds.

These little birds are so cute and those males are so brightly colored. They must attract a lady bird!

    

 

Some Advice About Fireworks From Dear DeDe!

Reblogged from Rumpydog:

Oh Dog! It's time for another visit with Dear DeDe! That's me!

This week those of us in the US will celebrate the birth of our country on July 4th. It's often a grand affair with cookouts, parades, and fireworks! And today is Canada Day in... well... Canada! They also do some celebrating with fireworks.

It's those fireworks I want to remind you about.

Read more… 383 more words

Good advice for pet owners for keeping your dogs safe on the 4th!

DAD’S WEEK DAY # 2

DAD’S WEEK DAY #2

We’re staying in South America today to meet this exceptional amphibian dad! This frog was discovered Charles Darwin himself! Grab your boots and rain gear because we’re going to a mountainous rainforest to meet these amazing dads!

MEET THE DARWIN’S FROG!

   Range/Habitat: Southern South America/ mountain rainforest

   Diet: Carnivore: insects, small animals

   Length: up to 1 ¼ “

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Darwin’s Frogs have sharp pointy snouts that look like leaves.
• Male Darwin’s frogs attracted females with a low call that sounds like a bell.
• They are nocturnal (active at night).
• Female Darwin’s frogs lay around 30 eggs.
• Male Darwin’s frogs protect the eggs for about two weeks and then scoop them up in their vocal sacs.
• The eggs hatch in their vocal sacs, where the tadpoles eat the yolk from the egg. They emerge from dad’s vocal sac as little froglets!

These little funny look frogs are spectacular dads. It’s pretty crazy that they carry around the eggs in their mouths until they are little frogs!

     

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 36

WATERY WEDNESDAY# 36

We are off to Africa today to meet a small but extraordinary fish! These little fish have been on the planet for a very long time! Let’s gear up and head out to meet these little animals!

MEET THE ORNATE BICHIR!

   Range/Habitat: Western-Central Africa/ lakes, rivers

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, crustaceans

   Length/Weight: up to 16”/ up to 18 oz

   Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

• Ornate bichirs are considered to be the most beautiful member of the bichir fish family.
• They are beige with black markings.
• Ornate bichirs are small and oblong.
• They have armor like scales.
• Ornate bichirs stalk and ambush their prey.
• They can stay out of water and breathe regular air for short periods of time.

What? There’s a fish that can breathe air? That is some crazy stuff! We can tell you that this small elephant and horse cannot breathe under water, although Ellie can stick her trunk out of the water !

 

 

EASTER BUNNY PHOTO OP!

We wanted to share a fun local event in Atlanta! You can meet the Easter Bunny and see a sneak peak of the movie “HOP” about an Easter Bunny who wants to be a rock n’ roll star! What a party! Who’s in?

Mall of Georgia and Town Center at Cobb invite area kids and parents to attend a family-friendly Easter Photo Experience event, taking place through the holiday. Kids will have the chance to visit with the sought-after Easter Bunny and get ready for the Blu-ray™/DVD release of HOP from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on March 23, the all-new comedy about candy, chicks and rock ‘n’ roll, and even meet the movie’s star E.B. in person!

At Gwinnett Place, Northlake Mall, Mall of Georgia and Town Center at Cobb, children can take a photo on a colorful set with the legendary Easter Bunny and a life-sized standee of E.B., the rabbit from HOP who dreams of becoming a rock star drummer. Families will enjoy a sneak peek of the HOP Blu-ray™/DVD while waiting to pose for a picture and receive an engaging HOP activity sheet after capturing their sensational Easter snapshot.

To celebrate the HOP Blu-ray™/DVD launch date on March 23, kids will have the chance to receive an adorable HOP plush character given away randomly every hour, at the top of the hour during the Easter Photo Experience event. Families can visit www.simon.com for additional Easter Photo Experience schedule details

The Simon Kidgits Clubs at Mall of Georgia and Town Center at Cobb will also host special events on Saturday, March 24 where kids can create their own Easter drum set and jam out to the catchy tune “I Want Candy” at the mall, just like HOP’s hilarious rockin’ rabbit E.B., and participate in various fun, Easter-themed activities. Kids will receive terrific take-home treats, including a set of pencil drumsticks (while supplies last), HOP stickers and an activity sheet. They can also interact with a costumed character E.B. from HOP (Mall of Georgia, 8:30-10 a.m.; Town Center at Cobb 1-3 p.m.).

Edmond has a cold

Edmond has had a head cold all day and I- Ellie have been taking care of him today… So no post. We may have two tomorrow!

Top 10 ½ Reasons To See the Darwin at Fernbank!

Top 10 ½ Reasons To See the Darwin Exhibit at Fernbank Museum of Natural History

(in no particular order)

1)  You get to meet Charles Darwin himself. Ok not really, it’s actually a life size cutout of him, but he’s pretty handsome.

Here we are with Darwin!

1 ½ ) You may or may not see a dino with a beard!

Giggy Dinosaur looks good in a beard!

2)  There are skeletons!

Skeletons of animals!

3) You can learn about Darwin’s childhood. He really loved the outdoors.

Young Naturalist!

4)  You can learn what it takes to be a scientist. Unfortunately it doesn’t say anything about wearing a white lab coat.

What does it take to be a scientist?

5) There are frogs!

Frog hiding in the grass! Camouflage rocks!

6) You can meet Galapagos tortoises. Ok, they’re not real either, but they’re really cool!

Galapogos tortoises and us!

7)  You can learn about the evolution of horse hooves. This is especially awesome if you’re a horse.

Edmond with the touchable hooves!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edmond really loved this part! He didn't know that horses had such a neat history!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8) There’s an iguana named Iggy!

Sleeepy igauana!

9) You can see a drawing of Dodo birds! They’re extinct, but it’s fun to say dodo!

Dodo birds!

10) You’ll learn tons and tons of great information about a smart, fascinating scientist and the father of evolution, Charles Darwin.

Darwin- enough said! GO SEE IT!

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #3!

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY#3

SURPRISE!! It’s Thursday, and we have a special little mammal for today’s Super Surprise! If you’re a bird or a rodent living in rainforest of Central and South America you don’t want to be caught by surprise by this stealthy feline!

MEET THE MARGAY!

Range/Habitat: Central-South America- Mexico to Argentina/Rainforest

Diet:  Carnivore: mice, rodents, birds and occasional fruit

Length/Weight: 18-31”/ 5 ½-8 ¾ lbs

Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Fun facts:

• The Margay is an excellent climber. It is arboreal (it spends most of its time in trees).
• They have large flexible paws that help them climb and grip branches. They have even been known to hang from a branch by one paw! WOW!
• Their back ankles are able to turn 180 degrees, also helping them grip tree branches.
• They are able to run head first down a tree (very unusual for cats-just ask your pet cat how hard this is). Clouded leopards are the only other cat known to do this.
• They have long tails to help them balance.
• Margays are nocturnal (active at night).
• Margays have large eyes and ears to help them see and hear at night.
• They have been observed mimicking (making similar sounds) monkey sounds to lure monkeys closer to them.

These special felines are amazing! They have some special adaptations to help them survive life in the trees. Can your pet cat make bird sounds to lure birds? Our cat friend can’t do that!