Sparrow Observation

Sparrows are really small birds but they are not the smallest birds in the world. It only takes 10-14 days for baby sparrows to hatch. Different types of sparrows lay a different number of eggs. A good example is a House Sparrow, it lays 4-5 eggs. They eat grains, seeds, insects, and some vegetables and fruit. They have some enemies like cats, dogs, raccoons, and snakes.

Robin Observation

There are many different types of robins like American Robins, European Robin and the Blue Whistling Thrush. Baby robins take about 12-15 days to hatch. They first use their beaks to break a little hole in the egg. Then they take a minute to breathe. Next, they use their body to break the egg more. Then they take a minute to breathe again. Finally, they use full force and break the egg open! In the morning you will find the adult robins hunting on the ground, looking for worms and other invertebrates.  

Habitats of Birds in North America

I live in North America and my bird habitat is the temperate forest. Some birds that live in my habitat are Eastern Screech Owl, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Northern Cardinal, and the Bald Eagle. There are 437 different types of birds where I live. There are lots of trees to make nests on and to perch on.  There are many different types of animals and insects for them to eat. 

Tarantula Observation

Tarantulas can be pets. It will not be afraid if you stand still and be calm. They eat other insects like grasshoppers, beetles, other small spiders and arthropods. They sometimes eat small lizards. They also hate citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges. Tarantulas have eight walking legs and two legs for touching prey. They have eight eyes, two at the top and six at the bottom.

Black Widow Spider Observation

Black widow spiders are poisonous. When they are scared they bite and spread poison to bugs and people. Black widows eat bugs like flies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. Male black widows are smaller than the females. Female black widow spiders can lay 255 eggs. It takes 26 to 30 days for the babies to hatch. The female will also eat the male black widows. Black widows have a few different predators like wasps, birds, and some small mammals.

Jumping Spiders and Trapdoor Spiders Observation

When a trapdoor spider’s prey gets too close to their home they grab them and then rip them open. They prefer to live in warm climates and they like to eat fish and other insects. Trapdoor spiders hate citrus fruit such as lemons and oranges. Their most common predators are wasps, scorpions, birds, centipedes, and flies. 

Jumping spiders lock on their prey and wait for them to land nearby. Then they jump really far and eat their prey. They eat other spiders and insects their size. Jumping spiders hate citrus fruit, just like trapdoor spiders. They commonly eat small birds, frogs, toads, and lizards.

Dragonfly Observation

Dragonflies are older than the dinosaurs. There are more than 5,000 dragonfly species. They can eat hundreds of mosquitoes per day. Adult dragonflies prefer to eat many flying insects like beetles, flies, moths, bees, and even wasps. They love to be by water, especially on hot days. Two main predators of a dragonfly are fish and birds. If there is a bump on the dragonflies abdomen it is a male. If the underside of the dragonflies abdomen is smooth then it is a female. 

Mosquito Observation

Mosquitoes are really dangerous. When they bite it can itch or spread a disease. Mosquitoes love to eat juice from fruit, drink nectar from flowers, fluids from plants, and blood from other organisms. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark and bold colors like red and black. They are more attracted to when humans and animals sweat. There are lots of ways to keep mosquitoes away like lavender plants, cinnamon oil, citronella, and tea tree oil. Another interesting fact is that the blind female mosquitoes don’t bite or carry diseases.

Termite Observation

Termites are larva looking insects. The ones with red heads are the soldiers and the ones with white heads are workers. There is a queen and her job is to make the eggs. The queen’s head is as small as the others but the abdomen is four inches. The queen can produce 30,000 eggs per day. Some termites stay with the queen to nurse their eggs. Termites have several different enemies such as ants, assassin bugs, beetles, flies, spiders, roundworms, and wasps. Termites eat wood from all over the world. They badly damage houses.

Bee Observation

Bees are very smart insects; they are pollinators. They pollinate flowers and use the nectar to make honey. Bees have two large compound eyes and three small eyes on their head. Male bees that stay in the hive are called drones. Bees fly as far as twenty miles per hour. If a bee loses its stinger it will die. Bees eat their own honey and, sometimes, will share their own honey with other bees. Bees love many types of ripe fruit like apples and oranges. They drink the juice from the fruit.