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.
Do you know the difference between ravens and crows? It can be hard to tell them apart. However, there are some key differences between the two.
They stand at 6 to almost 8 inches tall, with a wingspan of 5 to 6. 5 inches.
The Spectacled Owl is named because of the markings on its face that make it look like it’s wearing glasses! They have dark brown feathers on their face, with white streaks between and around the eyes.
Have you ever considered what the criteria are for a bird to be a raptor? It can get pretty complicated. Mostly because A, some people usually use the term “raptor” interchangeably with the term “bird of prey”; B, because some people also only use “raptor” to discuss birds that are Falconiformes; and C, because scientists are still trying to figure out exactly what classifies a bird as a raptor.
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.
Students can learn on their own outside of a lesson when there are posters up on the walls. Our graphic and informative posters can also reinforce concepts learned during lessons.
They stand about 8-9 inches tall and have a wingspan of 21-24 inches. They have “extreme reversed sexual dimorphism”, which means the females are larger than the males and weigh almost double what the males do.
Why do we study owls and dissect their pellets? Because we can get a ton of information from them – information that can help us better understand what goes on in a habitat and the influence that owls have on that habitat.
Ferruginous Pygmy Owls look very similar to Northern Pygmy Owls, but their range is further south within the United States.
Elf owls are the smallest owls in North America. They are grayish brown, with yellow eyes, and have white streaks over their eyes that look like eyebrows.
Northern Hawk Owls are rare owls to spot when you’re out and about. They're also one of the least studied birds in North America.
Short-Eared Owls are slightly unusual owls that can be found in many places throughout the world. The only continents where you won’t find them are Australia and Antarctica.
