Leave a Comment

Posted on April 26, 2021 by The Art of Ecology

Memory: WILD ART 2021

As part of the Wild Art 2021 April Challenge, put on by Zoe Keller, I illustrated two pieces focusing on the theme, “Memory”. While some artists focused on nocturnal animals and their unique adaptations, others focused on marine species that live in the depths! Each month, I am going to focus on two pieces – one highlighting flora, the other highlighting fauna.

When poking fun at someone’s ability to NOT remember things, we often say “They have the memory of a goldfish!”, but not all animals have a short memory! In fact, some animals such control over their memories that they are able to wipe out unneeded memories in order to make space in their brain for more valuable memories. For example, the Chickadee has gained the ability to select which memories are important and fully engrain them in their head. When a chickadee migrates, they need to remember not just how far to go, but to remember specific locations of food and ideal habitat. In the fall, chickadees need to start recalling the best migration paths, where they have stored food, and other important information. During this time, their brain expands, allowing for more neural connections to be built. Then, in the spring to early summer, when migration is done and food is more plentiful, the brain shrinks and the neural connections that were built specifically to recall food and habitat is wiped, allowing the chickadees to create new space once fall comes again. Amazing!

It’s not only birds and animals though, that have displayed an intriguing sense of memory! It’s in plants too! For example, the Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica), has shown recollection. Scientists have studied this plant in controlled environments. Another name for the Sensitive Plant is “Touch-Me-Not”. This is an appropriate name, since when the plant is touched or disturbed, they protect themselves by folding up their leaves. During the experiment led by Dr. Monica Gagliano, scientists splashed the plant with water. At the start, the Sensitive plant closed it’s leaves up quickly, not liking the disturbance. Over time however, the plant learned that the water did not harm the plant, so it stopped closing it’s leaves to the stimulus. This proves that plants have the ability to learn and recognize repeated patterns, analyze threat levels, and then modify their behavior based on external stimuli! Even for several weeks after the environmental conditions of the studied plant changed, it still was able to recognize the water splash and didn’t close up.

Stay tuned next month to learn more about how both plants and animals fascinate me with the “Wonder” theme!

Click below for more scientific illustrations, illustration workshops, or some new home dรฉcor!

Scientific Illustration
Illustration Workshops & Events
Shop Illustrations

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

Visit the Shop
Become a Patron

Leave a Comment

Posted on April 12, 2021 by The Art of Ecology

Spring Cleaning is for the birds

Every winter, I sit inside with my hot cocoa, watching Netflix, working on my art, or playing games. Each winter, I sit inside SURROUNDED by all of the clutter and dust. Each spring, I get so tired of it that I HAVE to do something about it! I create bags and boxes to take to thrift stores. I dust every inch, I bleach and sanitize my shower curtain, I scrub down the walls and baseboards. BUT….. I DON’T clean my windows, and there’s a reason for that!

Well, I clean the window frames. But I don’t clean the glass panels themselves! Did you know that roughly one out of ten birds in North America will die due to window strikes? Why does this happen?

First of all, birds haven’t been trained to perceive glass in the same way that humans have. How many times though, have we, educated human-beings, bumped into doors or walls because they were glass and we were moving to fast or not paying attention enough to notice? For us, we usually shake off the embarrassing encounter and hope no one noticed, but for birds, it’s often a one-time experience that they don’t get to learn from.

Birds see the habitat on the other side of the glass and fly at full speed (they have no reason not to fly as normal to get to the trees on the other side!) – colliding with the solid surface. The result is a broken neck, spine, or wings, and some internal bleeding. These collisions are usually fatal.

Birds may also see their own reflection and get territorial, thinking it’s another bird and not themselves. Cardinals are notorious for this each spring. While these birds may not collide with the windows, they may attack the reflection. This consumes a lot of unnecessary energy and the bird may injure themselves during the stressful encounter.

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent window strikes!

  • Hang strips of mylar (the shiny stuff that makes up helium balloons) or CDs that flutter and shine in the wind. This deters many birds who become confused or annoyed by it.
  • Put screens over all of the windows. Can your window open? Add a screen and enjoy the breeze while also protecting birds!
  • Stick things on the windows. Sometimes you can create a frosted window appearance with window tapes. This frosted window reduces glare and reflections. The birds also won’t be able to see through it to the other side! Window clings are a great idea as well to help break up reflections and prevent the birds from thinking that they can fly through.
  • Reduce the spring cleaning! Yes, my windows have dog nose prints all over if they’re low enough. Yes, there are random dust spots and smudges. BUT – these all help the birds realize that something is there and it’s not just open space! The more we make our windows squeaky clean, the more likely it is for birds to think that nothing but air is there and they can fly through.

So doing a complete overhaul of your home and getting rid of excess clutter is great – but remember, keep bird populations in mind when you go to Windex that window! (And maybe thank them…. it’s one less chore!)

Love birds and need more of them in your life? Smatter them around you with photos, stickers, and more! Check out the birding goodness in my shop.

Shop Bird Goodness Here
Downloadable Window Clings for Birds Workshop
Check out my time lapse illustration of these birds! Then, snag your sticker set of them in my shop!

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

Visit the Shop
Become a Patron

Leave a Comment

Posted on March 29, 2021 by The Art of Ecology

Adapt: Wild Art 2021 – March

As part of the Wild Art 2021 March Challenge, put on by Zoe Keller, I illustrated two pieces focusing on the theme, “Adapt”. While some artists focused on nocturnal animals and their unique adaptations, others focused on marine species that live in the depths! Each month, I am going to focus on two pieces – one highlighting flora, the other highlighting fauna.

If you’re wondering about plants that have developed special adaptations – the orchids are amazing examples! Orchid flowers are often highly adapted to their specific pollinators, and what pollinates one orchid, may not pollinate another due to the unique structure of the flower itself. One example of a unique floral adaptation is the Coryanthes macrantha, the Bucket Orchid. This flower looks like a strange, alien pitcher. The front of the pitcher fills with liquid. When bees come to pollinate the flower, they fall into the liquid. The only way for them to get out is to travel through a small tube in the back of the flower. As the bee crawls through, the orchid deposits a small pollen sac on the bee’s back, which the bee then takes to the next orchid it visits!

In the Phalaenopsis orchid (illustrated here), orchid bees are the primary pollinator. These bees have adapted a very long tongue (as compared to other bees), which makes it easy to collect the nectar hidden deep within this orchid. The Phalaenopsis orchid also has a lip (the magenta portion of the flower here) that acts as a landing pad to allow the bee to rest before it flies on to the next orchid!

Orchids & How They Trick Pollinators

Not all adaptations are designed to be “attractive” or helpful for other species. In fact, some can be deceptive and prevent certain interactions! Mimicry is an adaptation where one animal (or plant!) looks like another in order to protect themselves from predation. Pipevine Swallowtails are toxic to many predators, due to their diets. As caterpillars and adults, they thrive on a plant called Pipevine (hence the butterfly’s name), which contains a toxin called aristolochic acid. When a predator eats the caterpillar or the adult, they are poisoned in turn. Red Spotted Purples, a completely edible butterfly, has similar spotting and coloration to the Pipevine Swallowtail in order disguise themselves! They don’t want to be eaten by predators, so they look like the other to to trick predators into thinking that they are actually toxic.

What adaptation would you have if you could? Would you look like something else to hide or blend in? Would you be especially attractive? Would you have a specialized body part that helps perform some sort of unique function (like opposable thumbs or a prehensile tail)?

Stay tuned next month to learn more about how both plants and animals are able to store information and remember the past with the “Memory” theme!

Click below for more scientific illustrations, illustration workshops, or some new home dรฉcor!

Scientific Illustration
Illustration Workshops & Events
Shop Illustrations

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

Visit the Shop
Become a Patron

Leave a Comment

Posted on March 8, 2021 by The Art of Ecology

Start Planning Your Garden NOW!

My garden is a certified Wildlife Sanctuary and Pollinator Space. But… there are ALWAYS plenty of ways to add to and improve upon any space!

It may be a little chilly out still, but it’s finally the time of year to start planning out your garden! As the winter fades into spring, we can think about seed starting, and drawing up plans to ready your home/garden for new plants. How do we start the planning process though? Ultimately, think about what your garden goal for the rest of the year will be.

Perhaps your goal is to add more winter color. Perhaps you wish to certify your garden as wildlife habitat. Or, perhaps your goal is to attract hummingbirds! Personally, this year, my goal is to ensure there are blooms all growing-season long (during July-early September, the color fades more than I’d like it to).

How can your garden create new habitat? Remember, everything in nature is connected and you want your garden space to be a benefit to the ecosystem, not something that could potentially hurt it!

Another goal to think about is: How can you be more sustainable this year? While it’s not always necessarily plant-related, sustainability is still important to think about while you plan your garden! Can you get a rain barrel now and install it to be ready for the heat of the summer? Can you reduce your chemical fertilizer & pesticide treatment? Can you build a composting area to get it started this spring? Can you include more companion plants in the garden to attract beneficial insects that can act as predators of pest insects? Can you add more native plants? By knowing what your goal is, you can create a successful plan to get you started this spring and help you along throughout the year.

Whatever your goal is, there are many ways to start the plan! You can draw out maps, take a plant inventory, create a “to-plant” list, or a planting schedule!

As plants pop up this spring, take a look at the space you have available and think about what is lacking (natives, host plants, late summer color, late fall resources, water source, etc…). Then, create an inventory. Write down what you have, or photograph the garden through all seasons so you can remember not just what you have, but WHERE you have it, regardless the time of year!

Explore How I Keep my Garden Inventory – Get Inspired!

Creating a map of your garden and viewing the photographs throughout the year will help you see where you have some empty spaces as well as what’s in the surrounding area. There are many great garden mapping tools, however this is a great free starting tool!

Keep in mind as you plan your future garden out, there are many seeds that like to be started indoors, 4-8 weeks prior to the last frost date. As you come up with your plan, check and see if you can start seeds indoors in late February-March! Not only is this a rewarding way to obtain plants, but it also saves money, and allows you to start your gardening experience earlier in the year! Not all seeds want to be started inside, some plants, like Nasturtiums, have delicate roots that don’t like being moved and transplanted. Those will be seeds that you want to start outside once the ground has warmed up. You want to be sure that your little seedlings (or seeds!) are ready for the ground when the time comes in spring – summer.

Are you looking to add more native plants to your garden space? Regardless of garden plot size, natives are a great addition and many can even live in pots year after year! Learn more about plants native to your specific area here.

Learn More About Gardening Sustainably
View Upcoming Gardening Events
Bring Nature Home in the Shop!

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

Visit the Shop
Become a Patron

Leave a Comment

Posted on February 25, 2021 by The Art of Ecology

Intertwine: Wild Art 2021

As part of the Wild Art 2021 February Challenge, put on by Zoe Keller, I illustrated two pieces focusing on the theme, “Intertwine”. It’s always exciting to see how other artists interpret the challenge and create art. Some artists focused on the twisty nature of snakes, and others focused on octopus arms. Each month, I am going to try to focus on two pieces (at the very least) – one highlighting flora, the other highlighting fauna.

The first is the plant – the Clematis (Clematis sp.). Did you know that in order to get as close to the sun as possible, the Clematis Flower (also called the Queen of Vines) intertwines itself around trees or other understory shrubs! The native clematis (Clematis virginiana or occidentalis here in Pennsylvania) can often be found wrapping itself around shrubs and attract many pollinators. The shrubs provide support and a ladder of sorts for the flower to climb. The Clematis does not choke off it’s support though, like other, potentially invasive vines do.

Similarly to the Clematis, some animals need to intertwine themselves around others, or snuggle in order to survive! From mice, bats, and other small mammals who need to snuggle in the winter for warmth, to snakes who go below ground and intertwine themselves around their families for warmth, there are so many!

The Emperor Penguin survives in harsh, cold environments that can dip to -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20C). In order to avoid freezing, the many penguins gather in tight groups to snuggle! These groups conserve energy and protect each other from chilly winds. What’s absolutely amazing is that the penguins know how to handle these huge group huddles! The ones on the outside are constantly buffeted by winds, so they move inwards, while the ones on the inside actually get too hot (the inner circle can get up to a balmy 37 degrees Fahrenheit, or 2.8C)! and move to the outer edge. This rotation continues for as long as it needs to until they need food or environmental conditions improve.

Stay tuned next month to learn more about the specialized adaptations of orchids and butterflies in the “Adapt” theme! Click below for more scientific illustrations, illustration workshops, or some new home dรฉcor!

Scientific Illustration
Illustration Workshops & Events
Shop Illustrations

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

Visit the Shop
Become a Patron

Leave a Comment

Posted on February 4, 2021 by The Art of Ecology

Combating The Winter Blahs

Uuugghhhhhh…. Many of us are feeling it right now… A mild depression, the itching desire to go out and do something, and see something GREEN! If you’re a gardener, you may even be beyond excited to get your hands in the dirt again!

We’ve got it bad…. Well, I do at any rate. I’ve got the winter blah’s and SPRING FEVER! No, you’re not actually sick. Spring fever is just a feeling that many get after what seems to be an endless winter, when our bodies are telling us that we’re ready for a change in season; for warm weather, more daylight hours, and to see growing, living things again!

Usually, I start feeling this way in late-January to early February. I go stir crazy, find myself complaining about the cold more than usual, and start willing my garden to grow. Fortunately, even if there’s going to be a few more weeks of winter, there’s plenty of things to do to make it feel more like spring and to get yourself ready for the warmer months!

Exploring a botanical garden can be a great cure for the winter blah’s and spring fever!
  1. Create your Garden Plans for the Year – Take a look at what you have in your garden, think about what you want (some new exciting plants, blooms for a season that you don’t have much color, host plants, etc…), and create a list of seeds that you can start indoors! Is it your goal to create a wildlife sanctuary in your backyard this year? Make sure that you know what it’s going to take an have a plan of action.
  2. Immerse Yourself In Growth- Visit a botanical garden or greenhouse! Not only are the greenhouses beautifully warm, they also allow you to be completely surrounded by vibrant, growing things for a day, improving your mood, self-esteem, and productivity!
  3. Turn Your Home/Office Into a Jungle – Invest in some new houseplants. Having the green in your house or office can really improve your overall mood! Click here to learn more about the benefits of having plants in the house.
  4. Spring Clean your Plants – Repotting, fertilizing, and pruning are all great end-of-winter activities to get your plants ready for spring! Pot some plants in the next pot size up to give them room to grow in the new year. Add some slow-release fertilizer for a spring growth boost! Prune off dead or dying foliage to freshen them up, and be sure to do some larger trimmings to try your hand at propagation!
  5. Propagate your Houseplants – Many plants will grow new roots in water if they have some nodes (where the stem meets the leaf) in the water. House plants like philodendrons, pothos, ivy, monstera, coleus, and even some ficus can work well being propagated in water – then you’ll have a whole bunch of new, baby plants to transplant and work with even though they weather outside may still be chilly!

Want to delve more deeply into the world of plants? Check out my calendar of events for upcoming plant programs, or visit my shop to snag a green, vibrant, and lush photo print or illustration!

Upcoming Events
Shop Photo Prints and More

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

Visit the Shop
Become a Patron

Leave a Comment

Posted on January 21, 2021 by The Art of Ecology

Extremes: Wild Art 2021

For 2021, an artist that I admire (Zoe Keller) decided to host a year-long challenge where each participant creates art based around a monthly theme. Not only does participating in this challenge help motivate an artist to continually create and improve, but provides a place (using #WildArt2021) for artists to discover other incredible artists in the scientific/environmental field. Each months theme is left up to the artists interpretation – which leads to a huge variety of artwork!

This January, the theme was “Extremes”. While some focused on predators, others focused on stark animal coloration, and others focused on creatures with extremely amazing adaptations (like Tardigrades)! Each month, I am going to try to focus on two pieces – one highlighting flora, the other highlighting fauna.

I chose to learn more about the smallest vertebrate and the largest flower in the world to show two size extremes of the biological world.

Paedophryne amauensis is the world’s smallest vertebrate (which does not include insects or microscopic creatures). This frog was discovered in 2009 in Papau New Guinea living on the forest floor, protected by leaf litter. Aside from it’s extremely small size, it is also unique in the fact that it does not go through typical metamorphosis like other amphibians. These frogs hatch as mini-adults and hop around looking for tasty, small insects. This frog measures in at roughly 7 millimeters. That means that if lined up nose-to-tailbone, it would take 4,186 of these tiny frogs to match the length of a Blue Whale! Interested to learn more about their anatomy, some implications of their tiny size, and about their life, click here for a study on the discovery of the smallest vertebrate!

On the other side of the extreme, we move on to the largest single flower – the aptly named “Monster Flower” (Rafflesia arnoldii)! Similarly to the frog, this flower is unique in ways beyond it’s size. Unlike most flowers, the Rafflesia has no root system or even leaves. It also doesn’t photosynthesize like other chlorophyll-filled plants, it’s parasitic! For most of it’s life, it stays hidden inside of the roots and stems of woody plants, specifically in a vine in the grape family. Once it’s ready to bloom, buds burst from it’s host plant and a foul-smelling flower blooms. Plants that smell particularly badly attract flies as pollinators. The flies visit the flower, looking for rotting flesh, only to leave disappointed, although covered in pollen grains, which they then transport to the next flower!

To compare the two life forms, it would take roughly 143 Paedophryne amauensis frogs standing in a line to match the size of the Monster Flower.

Stay tuned next month to learn more about how plants and animals require support and in order to survive as I illustrate the theme: “Intertwine”.

Click below for more scientific illustrations, illustration workshops, or some new home dรฉcor!

Scientific Illustration
Illustration Workshops & Events
Shop Illustrations

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

Visit the Shop
Become a Patron

Leave a Comment

Posted on January 1, 2021 by The Art of Ecology

2021 Color of the Year – Illuminating

Bright Sunshine, Butterfly wings, Bird Plumage, and flowers…. What do these all have in common? They can be “Illuminating”, the Pantone Color of the Year! This year, Pantone selected 2 colors to represent 2021, and the combination is beautiful!

PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating, two independent colors that highlight how different elements come together to support one another, best express the mood for Pantone Color of the Year 2021. Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, the union of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating is one of strength and positivity. It is a story of color that encapsulates deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the promise of something sunny and friendly…

Pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2021

What can be found in nature that embodies this color? American Goldfinches and Tiger Swallowtails really work for the 2021 year with their yellow and black/grey wings. Below, I went through my archives and selected my favorites, and will definitely be on the watch in 2021 for this vibrant and warm color combo.

Shop Photo Prints

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

Visit the Shop
Become a Patron

Leave a Comment

Posted on December 22, 2020 by The Art of Ecology

Despite the utter insanity that 2020 was, The Art of Ecology saw some wonderful growth and I had some amazing opportunities! Overall, I adapted and figured out some unique ways to keep you all engaged. I (just over) DOUBLED my reach from 2019!

In the late spring, I started working on writing and illustrating a children’s book about Pollinator Morphology (scheduled to be published late winter 2021)! Check out some sneak-peeks on my Scientific Illustration page.

In the late summer, I hosted a Professional Development workshop for teachers at a low-income school district about Community Science and using it as a tool to increase geographical & environmental literacy. This was funded by a grant I received from National Geographic! Are you an educator that could benefit from including some hands-on observation, data collection, or even photography in your classroom? Watch the recording of the professional development event here.

Almost immediately after that, I went to Dubai to speak at an International Leadership Summit! My presentation was titled “Telling a Story through Photography” and helped the multinational summit participants take better photos that helped to tell their culture’s story. I was also the event photographer for the summit. While that trip heavily focused on portrait & event photography, I was able to spend some of my time in the city of Dubai and the desert taking nature photos. View that portfolio here!

In late fall, I found out that I received an award for my garden through the PA Horticultural Society! My small-scale/pseudo-urban garden is a certified Wildlife Habitat and Pollinator Garden. Interested in learning more about my garden, how to garden for wildlife, or garden with the natural world in mind? Click here!

And finally, much to my excitement, in November, I completed National Geographic’s “Using Photography to Tell Visual Stories” education cohort! This was another amazing step in my work and learning with National Geographic’s education team. I also continued my role as a mentor for the National Geographic Educator Certification program and am slated to continue into 2021 as well. Learn more about their program here.

I’m not done growing and improving The Art of Ecology, though! In 2021, my goal is to increase engagement and find new and innovative ways to connect people to the natural world through art! It is with YOUR help that I can continue to make my little dream a reality and help make the world a brighter, greener place! Stay tuned for more Virtual and In-Person workshops each month, programs like Trails-to-Tasting, and Environmental & Conservation Education Enrichment for home-schoolers. As always, a portion of the proceeds is donated back towards Wildlife Conservation and Habitat Preservation efforts.

Shop Prints, Illustration, Events, and More with The Art of Ecology

Explore my top selling products of 2020 and make sure that you participate/get your own today!

Get Social with The Art of Ecology!

Follow on Facebook
Pin with Me on Pinterest
Daily Doses of Nature on Instagram
My 2020 Top Nine on Instagram. Wow, y’all really liked my foxes!
My 2020 Top Watched Video that spurred the creation of my Trails-to-Tasting video series!

Here’s to a 2021 filled with more growth, new opportunities, and innovative ways to connect you to the natural world!

1 Comment

Posted on December 14, 2020 by The Art of Ecology

Explore the World of Birds this Winter

Ruby Crowned Kinglet female pauses her feeding on goldenrod to pose for me.

For myself, I find that as the summer turns into fall and the fall gives way to winter, my photography switches from primarily pollinators and lush green plants to the textures of dying flower seed heads and birds! Birds hang around my garden, flit through the tree farm in my backyard, and of course the hawks then sit in the tall trees watching and waiting for their next meal.

There are so many opportunities in the winter months to explore the world of birds! From simply learning about birds with many virtual programs (winter is a great time to sit inside and snuggle up to a webinar with a cup of hot chocolate!), to participating in Citizen Science bird counts – there’s a lot to do!

As Climate Change continues to impact bird species with wetter springs, drier summers, and changes to flower bloom time and insect emergence, scientists are continuing to study trends in bird populations to better understand patterns. Many scientists depend on “citizen” scientists to aid in documenting bird populations. (Learn more about Citizen Science and various projects that you can be a part of HERE) One of these Citizen Science projects is coming up – the Christmas Bird Count – put on by the National Audubon Society. Between Monday, December 14th – January 5th, people can count the varying bird species they see and give that data to a Count Compiler. The Compiler will then be able to give the data of the birds within a certain radius to scientists at Audubon. That data can then be used to create scientific models, population predictions, and help them understand the movements of birds and the impact climate change has on them.

Participate in the Christmas Bird Count

In February, you’ll be able to participate in another special Citizen Science Count – the Great Backyard Bird Count! Interested in learning more about birds and how to protect them from the threats facing them, but are a little intimidated by counting and identifying birds for a Citizen Science Project? Other organizations rely on people taking action to make the world a better, safer place for birds. For example, #BringBirdsBack focuses on providing 7 easy, at-home actions that anyone can take to make their communities more sustainable for birds. Roughly 3 Billion birds have disappeared since the 1970’s and the goal is to slow the decline in populations.

White-throated Sparrows are one of my favorite late-fall – winter birds here in PA. They are also on the list of birds in decline.

One of the ways that #BringBirdsBack suggests improving bird populations is one that I find VERY easy! Simply share your reasons for loving birds with others! As people learn more about birds and start loving on them, they are more likely to take actions to protect them. As a photographer, I know that a good photo of birds can elicit empathy for that creature, and that “empathy is the root of change” (as a National Geographic Explorer and Photographer said). Take photos of the birds at your feeder, the birds that hang out in your community, and the birds that you see during your travels and start sharing WHY you love birds!

My reasons for caring for birds:

  1. Not necessarily a scientific reason, but a reason nonetheless – Birbs are adorable. Have you ever seen one fluff it’s feathers and become a rotund ball of feathery floof?!
  2. Birds act as seed dispersers for the wildflowers I love and also act as pollinators. If you’re a gardener, birds can be your best friend!
  3. Birds help to manage insect populations. I’m not the biggest fan of creepy-crawly creatures (although as an Ecologist, I do know that they have their place in the world and will try to protect them as well!) so knowing that there is a creature out there that can gain nutrients and prevent insect populations from going out of control is an encouraging thought for me!
  4. Birds bring color to the world. From Indian Rollers in Dubai, to Goldfinches in my garden, birds can sport such bright and vibrant coloration! As a photographer and visual artist, any color is welcome and must be preserved!

What are your reasons for loving birds? Let me know in the comments!

Looking for ways to add more birds to your life? Check out my shop for fine art bird prints, bird illustrations, magnets, bird conservation themed stickers, and more!

Shop The Art of Ecology
Crested Cranes fly over Nairobi, Kenya.

Supporting The Art of Ecology through the online shop or by becoming a Patron at any tier on Patreon can help keep educational content coming!

Visit the Shop
Become a Patron
Marissa Jacobs | NatGeo Certified Educator | Photographer
Blogs by Categories
Bring Nature To Your Inbox

Click Here to Subscribe to my Eblast for coupons, first-looks, upcoming event notices, and more!

Instagram
There are so many valuable seeds and fruits still available for birds to eat! Not only do many insects over winter in old grasses and leaves, but birds also rely on these seeds high in oils (good fats!) and proteins to help keep them warm and survive through torpor, or a temporary sort of "hibernation" during the cold winter months. Seeds from rudbeckia, docks, goldenrod, asters, and grasses are super important, and fruits still cling to crabapple, sumac, and some dogwoods. So let's leave off on the fall garden clean up - wait until insect emergence in the spring to tidy up!
Swipe for a better look at what the Velocitoddler is checking out!
We saw all 15 of these mushrooms in the span of 20 minute walk along a mulch lined trail in the woods. The amount of color, sizes, and shapes were astounding and each one has a special role to fill in the woodland ecosystem. Most are saprobes, meaning that they digest already dead organic matter, like mulch, leaf litter, and old logs. Typically, if a mushroom is on the ground, it is a saprobe, while fungi that grow on living trees are parasitic.
We are at peak fall color right now and it's the perfect time for leaf peeping! I love all of the stunning oranges, reds, and yellows that appear this time of year, but did you know that these pigments have been there ever since the leaf burst into the world in the spring?! The chlorophyll, or that green pigment, outcompetes the rest of the pigments visually, since there needs to be a lot of it to undergo the process of photosynthesis. The other pigments are still important, and help to keep the tree healthy, but they just aren't as saturated. When the tree reabsorbs the chlorophyll components in the fall, we can finally see the other colors underneath!
The Art of Ecology’s YouTube Channel