The Art of Ecology
Building visual connections between people and nature.
Tag: Animals
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 …
Benefits of Birding
There are many great benefits of birding (the act of bird watching)! By collecting bird count data and adding those observations to databases, you can contribute to scientific research; helping ornithologists and wildlife biologists monitor populations and design conservation strategies! Birding also allows you to observe the natural world around you and make connections with …
Scientific Illustration Step-by-Step
Scientific illustration may seem daunting at first, however there are some great reasons to try your hand at it! First, as you draw, you are forming new pathways and connections in the brain. Secondly, each time you draw a piece, you are making some in-depth observations about it and may learn something new about the …
Marine Ecosystems & Their Connection to Land
We land-dwellers don’t usually consider the importance of marine ecosystems in our day-to-day lives, understandably. The times we usually think about the ocean are when we are on our summer vacations to the shore. In reality, the ways we are connected to marine life are closer than we may think. What Does the Ocean do …
Stream Health & Bioindicators Research Project by Intern Lucy
Research by Lucy McGinty and Marissa Jacobs 02/28/22 – 05/10/22 Abstract Local Pennsylvania streams are becoming more polluted due to chemical runoff, littering, and sewage dumping. Because of this, diversity in streams is beginning to decline. Popular ways researchers determine the quality of the stream is by species counts and various chemical testing. Macroinvertebrates are …
A World Without Pollinators
Could you imagine a world with no berries or melons? No pumpkins during the fall or chocolate to indulge in? Or what about a world with no coffee in the morning and no flowers to water? Unfortunately, this is most likely the path we are headed on due to the declining population of pollinators. According …
Be Kind to Animals – Even the Creepy Crawlies!
Did you know that May is National Be Kind to Animals Month? For the most part, especially if you’re reading this blog, you probably already have a soft spot in your heart for the charismatic animals of the world – so this seems like “preaching to the choir”, right? There are MANY animals in the …
Exploring Flora & Fauna for Invasive Species Week
During Invasive Species Awareness Week, we ask the question, “What does it mean to be an invasive species?”, and “What can we do about them?” Fortunately, both questions are relatively easy to answer. What is an Invasive Species? First we need to define Native Species. These are plants and animals that are indigenous to a …
Art Challenge: Feathered Friends for “Feathruary”!
This past month I’ve been creating art as part of the #Feathruary2022 by @MischievousRedFox on Instagram. Illustrating birds is not only fun, and a great way for me to study local birds & learn more about their identifying characteristics, but it is also a good way to educate about the importance of birds in our …
