The Art of Ecology
Building visual connections between people and nature.
Tag: Animals
Bald Eagles along the Delaware River
In spring of 2021, I wrote the Habitat Article for the local River Towns Magazine. The below is the blog version of the post – enjoy! A once dying raptor, Bald Eagles now have healthy habitat they need to thrive! In the 1960’s and 70’s, the Bald Eagle, our National symbol, was on the verge …
Lizards Vs. Salamanders: What’s the Difference?
During the summertime, I always get so excited to flip over rocks by the stream and roll over rotting logs in the woods in search of critters! Pennsylvania is home to 22 salamander species, many of which I have spotted, however I have never seen any of the 4 native lizard species in the wild! …
Who’s that knocking on my tree?
Throughout the year, we can hear the resounding “Rap-tap-tapping” of woodpeckers slamming their chisel-like beaks into the sides of trees, so why might we see more of them in autumn and winter? The primary reason is because there is a lack of foliage to get in the way of our sight! Many of our local …
It’s Spooky Season! Creep on Wildlife Skulls
It’s spooky season! It may be spooky to find a skull or animal bones in the woods while hiking, however this decomposition process is an important part of the circle of life. Trigger Warning – the next section of the post addresses death. Other autumnal/Halloween posts can be found below if you need to move …
Eastern Coyotes – Who Are They?
In the ecotone—a transition area between two habitats—that is the entire region where I live (Southeastern PA), where nature butts up against suburbia, we can expect to have more engagements with wildlife than our city cousins. Some encounters may be welcome, like watching a cottontail rabbit romping past or a bald eagle ascend overhead, while …
Butterfly Wings & Their Function
I always love seeing the beauty of butterflies this time of year as they flit around from flower to flower! I love the vibrant orange of the Monarchs and Viceroys, the yellow of the Tiger Swallowtails, and the blue-ish spots of the Red-Spotted Purple. Colorful butterfly wings also have fascinating anatomy that helps them fly …
Sounds of Summer: Cicadas
Starting in July or August, you might hear some loud screeching or buzzing from the treetops. Don’t be scared! The cicadas, endemic to North America, have emerged and the adults are trying to attract mates through their “beautiful” screaming. What IS a Cicada?! Cicadas are true bugs, meaning that they have three body parts, three …
Herps – What are they?
Starting in late March-early April, you may notice a lot of nature centers or wildlife organizations start talking about “Herps”…. What?! Herps are the collective term for Reptiles + Amphibians. While they each have their own distinguishing characteristics, they are similar enough so that many scientists lump them together while studying or talking about them. …
Feathruary 2023 Art Challenge
This past month I’ve been creating art as part of the #Feathruary2023 by @MischievousRedFox on Instagram. Illustrating birds is not only fun, and a great way for me to learn more about bird identifying characteristics, and sharing the finished piece is a good way to increase appreciation and respect for the bird world. Each piece …
Public Perception & Attitudes Towards Bird Feeding
As part of my spring 2023 “Wildlife Education” course (Masters of Environmental Science through Slippery Rock University), I conducted a survey/questionnaire that was designed to examine the public’s perceptions and attitudes towards a bird feeding; a sometimes-controversial wildlife topic. Many feel strongly about why they should or should not feed wild birds. Below are the …
Marissa Jacobs | NatGeo Certified Educator | Photographer
