Ecology Blueprints

Explore how bats and owls support healthy ecosystems through pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal—plus the challenges they face and classroom activities to bring nighttime ecology to life.

Costa’s Hummingbird is less than 4 inches tall. They usually live in desert habitats in California and Arizona, within washes or sage scrub.

Hummingbirds are part of the family Trochilidae. There are over 320 species of them throughout the world! About 12 species live in North America, but the greatest variety is found in South America.

Bees are integral animals to our environment. They’re in charge of pollinating 80% of flowering plants and 75% of fruit, nuts, and veggies in the US.

When we help bees, we help the rest of the environment, too. For example, by taking these actions, soil health improves, erosion reduces, and it’s easier to prevent invasive species from invading an area.