The Art of Ecology
Building visual connections between people and nature.
Tag: The Art of Ecology
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 …
Fall Fungi Madness
September marks National Mushroom Month since many fungi start appearing this time of year. Whether you’re looking for mushrooms to eat, to use for making botanical dye, or just because you plain old appreciate them and find them fascinating, September is a great time to search for fungus. As the temperature drops and the late …
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 …
Flower Morphology: Why does it look like that?
Flowers are such incredible organisms! I love the diversity of shape, color, and scents that can be found not just globally, but even regionally. But what is the point of a flower? Why care about flower morphology? Is it just something pretty that feeds pollinators nectar? Pollination Purpose Well, yes. Pollinators do love nectar – …
Human Behavior and Environmental Education
Well, my 2nd semester of grad school has now passed, meaning that I am halfway through! This is a happy thought. The light at the end of the tunnel is drawing closer. Despite being excited to finish, I learned a lot and am excited to apply the knowledge to my work. This semester, there was …
How Art & Nature Can Enhance Education
When we combine artistic mediums with environmental science topics, we can increase our knowledge about the natural world, and how we act as stewards of the ecosystems around us. WHY art is so beneficial to increasing our understanding, regardless of subject or topic? The Role of Art in Learning Styles Art, or something made via …
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. …
