Where Wildlife, Humans, & Ecology Meet
Ecology Blueprints explores the interconnected systems that link wildlife, humans, and their habitats—through science, observation, and hands-on learning.
Because no organism exists alone. When you understand food webs, habitat, and pressure, the species make sense. Ecology isn’t about memorizing animals—it’s about understanding relationships and outcomes.
The Northern Flicker is a woodpecker species that is unique from other woodpecker species. This is because it will forage on the ground for food instead of just getting it from pecking into trees.
Black-backed woodpeckers are found in boreal and coniferous forests that experience forest fires. One of their largest sources of prey is the wood-boring beetle, which is attracted to conifers post-fire.
Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest woodpecker species in the United States. They stand 15-19 inches tall, which is about the size of a crow, and have a wingspan that can reach up to 30 inches.
Have you seen Acorn Woodpeckers? They are very interesting birds both in appearance and behavior. They have red, black, and white coloring on their feathers, and they feed on mainly acorns and will store them in caches for eating during the winter.
Are you a bird watcher? Or are you interested in it but don’t know where to start? Birdwatching is a hobby of passionate wildlife lovers throughout the world and it’s easy to get started! .
When it rains, what do birds do? What adaptations do they have that help them weather storms? Their feathers are water resistant, and thanks to an oil gland they have at the base of their tails, they’re able to spread the oil over their feathers to help keep them that way.
They stand at 19-24 inches tall, with a wingspan of 10. 5-15 inches long, and weigh 17-45 ounces.
Within the UK, they’re found in England, Wales, and Scotland, but they aren’t found in Ireland, because they don’t travel across the water.
Birds of all kinds will do their best to attract a mate for the breeding season in the spring. Their efforts show off their strength and health – proving to the females that they’ll pass on strong genes to the offspring.
They prefer habitats that are open, like prairies or deserts. The majority of their time is spent on the ground, and they have long legs compared to other owls, which helps them run along the ground and capture their prey.
Northern Saw-whet Owls are pretty common owls that live in forest environments. They can usually be found in mixed coniferous and deciduous forests, and they’ll make their nests in the cavities of trees.
They’re small, standing between 6 and 7 inches tall and weighing only 2-2. 5 ounces.
