At 6-days old I take measurements of nestling White-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys). Each nestling is affixed with a small metal band around its leg, this band has a unique ID number so if it is ever caught anywhere in the world, we’ll know exactly where it is from. [Photo and caption by Carly Hawkins] Carly…
Arts & Crafts: Whale Hello There!
Check out this whaley nice piece of art by one of our young explorers!
Creature Feature: Whale barnacles
If you look closely at a photo of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), you’ll see that few animals accessorize quite like they do. Their crusty white ‘bonnet’ (which looks more like a mustache, if you ask me) complete with their classic goatee and cumulus eyebrows truly set them apart as charismatic megafauna. But what…
Sunday Sketch: Color me impressed
Chromatophores are cells that change pigments and reflect light and incephalopods (e.g. octopus, squid) can be rapidly changed by shifting pigmentsand reorienting reflective plates in the cells using their muscles! Caribbean reefsquid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea) use their chromatophores for camouflage andcommunication! Flashes of changing colors and patterns between squids are oftenseen during courtship and sometimes these…
Field Frame Friday: Anthropomorphism never looked so cute.
This four-month-old titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus) infant stuck his tongue out at the camera! Though it’s easy to assume this behavior was intentional and comedic, due to these monkeys’ close relatedness to us humans, this little one likely was unaware of what humor is. Anthropomorphism, wherein human characteristics are given to animals or objects, is…
Sci Hero: Dr. Temple Grandin
The Ethogram believes that science should be accessible and diverse in order to increase the sense of belonging within the science community. As a part of our continuing effort to make science a more inclusive field, we will be highlighting a “Sci Hero” each month so that the next generation of scientists and naturalists may be inspired and identify with the diverse community that came before them.
What To Do When Sh** Hits the Fan, a.k.a. Alternative Research Plans for Field Biologists
Grad students everywhere have had their best laid research plans stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year has been particularly challenging for animal biologists whose research requires them to travel to other countries to conduct fieldwork. I’ve had many anxiety-ridden virtual conversations with colleagues whose study animals can only be observed once in a blue…
Sunday Sketch: Faux Paw
An inaccurate animal nickname
Field Frame Friday: Can you hear me now?
A male white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) on his song perch. It is important for my research to try to record a sample from every male’s song throughout the season. [Photo and caption by Carly Hawkins] Carly studies how bird songs influence mating strategies in white-crowned sparrows. She is interested in how traffic noise can impede…
Arts & Crafts: Pretty Pollinators
Check out this young explorer’s artwork of an important part of nature: pollination!
