Bird

By David Burnie
Hardcover : 72 Pages
May 5, 2008

Bird is one of many books in the DK Eyewintess series, which is known for its concise, informational paragraphs and wonderful use of photographs and images. Bird is no different.

The book contains sections on all aspects of avian life, and is complete with diagrams, photographs, and hundreds of captions. Flying, eating, and reproductive behaviors are topics that are especially highlighted, and the book contains some great comparison photos of feathers, eggs, and nests.

The concise nature and language of the book makes it most suitable for those of a younger age, but I’d say the graphics and diagrams are quite fun to look at for readers of all ages.

Contains a beginners guide to bird watching and identification, as well as a glossary and index.

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Dumpy Tree Frog

Dumpy Tree Frog

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Amphibia
Order : Anura
Family : Hylidae
Genus : Litoria
Species : caerulea

Length : 4in (10cm)

IUCN Status : Least Concern

I chose today's animal entirely based on one of its common names: Dumpy Tree Frog. Though they are also known as White's Tree Frog and the Australian Green Tree Frog, Dumpy seems completely appropriate. And amusing.

Dumpy Tree Frogs are found in Northern and Eastern Australia, and New Guinea, areas of the world that are rich which strange and amazing animals. They are one of the largest species of tree frog, and females often outsize the males. Like many members of their genus, their typically greenish-blue skin is able to change color, though only slightly.

Though they are typically found up in trees, Dumpy Tree Frogs can also live near numerous other water sources, including sinks and toilets. They feed off on insects and anything else they can fit in their mouths and swallow, since they have a limited ability to chew their food. These frogs have very few native predators, and can live as long as twenty years.

Dumpy Tree Frogs have been quite beneficial to science. Secretions from their body are being worked on as potential treatments for HIV, Staph Infections, Herpes, and High Blood Pressure!

Dumpy Tree Frogs are commonly kept as pets, and are considered a good starter frog for new owners, due to their laid back nature, long lifespan, resistance to disease, and ease of care.

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Feathered Dinosaurs: The Origin of Birds

By John Long and Peter Schouten
Hardcover : 208 Pages
September 1, 2008

Feathered Dinosaurs: The Origin of Birds is a book of beautiful illustrations and accompanying text about feathered Dinosaurs and early Birds. In the past few decades more and more evidence has come to light to suggest that some Dinosaurs did in fact have feathers. Long and Schouten take these findings and use them to craft this guide.

The book begins with a chapter on the history of Paleontology and an overview of Dinosaur evolution. It then includes short chapters on several important Orders and Families. The remaining chunk of the book is made up of dozens and dozens of Dinosaurs illustrated in full color, complete with a short “biography” as well as an authors note regarding the depiction.

This is a beautiful and informative book, and I recommend it to anyone who has any interest in Dinosaurs. It really makes you think about these amazing animals of the past and how they may have looked completely different from how we’ve envisioned them for so long.

Contains references and index.

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What’s Faster Than a Speeding Cheetah?

By Robert E. Wells
Hardcover : 32 Pages
January 1, 1997

In this installment of Wells’ science book series for kids we take a look at the concept of speed. What’s Faster Than a Speeding Cheetah? starts out with the titular feline and compares it to other animals, before moving on to planes, rockets, and to concepts like the speeds of sound and light.

Wells combines his child-friendly text with whimsical illustrations and diagrams to create a cohesive, informative work. One of my favorite parts is the fact that the Cheetah, Falcon, and other animals from the beginning move through the rest of book, first as passengers on the aircraft, and then in space suits.

Recommended for ages 4-8, or anyone who just wants to look at a fun book about science.

Contains some additional information in back, along with a chart of how long it would take various animals/machines to travel from the Earth to the moon.

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Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers by Audubon

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Piciformes
Family : Picidae
Genus : Campephilus
Species : principalis

Length : 18-20in
Wingspan : 31in

IUCN Status : Critically Endangered, but quite possibly Extinct

The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker is/was one of the largest of all the Woodpeckers. Now, I say "is/was" because the current status of this bird is unknown. It was previously thought to be extinct, but then in 2005 a few birds were sighted in Arkansas. However, despite years of effort, and searches over thousands of square miles, no other birds have been located.

Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers were found in the South-East United States, living in old growth forests. During the 19th century these habitats were destroyed, causing the birds to lose their homes. By the mid 20th century, they were believed to be extinct in the United States. Report in Cuba continued until the 1980s, but that population is now also believed to be gone.

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker circa 1935

Before they were lost, a decent amount of information was obtained about the behavior of the species. For example, pairs mate for life and share the responsibilities of raising their young.They feed off of beetle larvae, and excavate nests high up in trees. Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers also have distinctive calls and raps, which ornithologists have been listening for in their search for these rare birds.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology continued to put together searches for the Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers, but no birds have turned up since the initial 2005 push. They suspended their searching in 2010. Other projects began in Florida, but they too came up relatively empty. Maybe they are still out there, maybe they aren't. It's another sad story of a species lost.

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Chinstrap Penguin

A pair of Chinstraps

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Sphenisciformes
Family : Spheniscidae
Genus : Pygoscelis
Species : antarcticus

Height : 28in (72cm)
Weight : 9-14lbs (3.5-5kg)

IUCN Status : Least Concern

Chinstrap Penguins are one of the most abundant of all the penguin species. It is estimated that there are over 7 million breeding pairs! Chinstraps live and breed in colonies and can be found in Antarctica and on islands in Antarctic Waters. The species is named for the thin black strip of feathers that runs under their beak.

Chinstrap Penguins feed off of fish and krill, and can dive down as far as 230ft (70m). Using their flippers they are able to swim at speeds of around 20mph (32kph), and their dives typically last for 20-30 seconds.

Adult and Chick

Chinstrap couples lay two eggs, which are incubated by both the male and female. Chinstraps are relatively unique among penguins in that they raise their chicks with equal care. Many other species prefer one chick over the other.

In recent years, Chinstrap Penguins have gained some notoriety due to a children's book titled And Tango Makes Three. It tells the real life story of Roy and Silo, two male Chinstraps who successfully incubated and raised a chick together. The book has been one of the most controversial in the past few years, and was the most challenged book of 2006, 2007, and 2008 according to the American Library Association.

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Javan Rhinoceros

Javan Rhino caught on camera trap

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Perissodactyla
Family : Rhinocerotidae
Genus : Rhinoceros
Species : sondaicus

Length : 6-11.5ft (1.8-3.5m)
Weight : 2,000-5,000lbs (900-2,250kg)

IUCN Status : Critically Endangered

The Javan Rhinoceros is perhaps the rarest large mammal in the entire world. There have been no individuals in captivity for over 100 years, and less than 60 living in the wild. These remaining Rhinos are found in two protected parks, Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia, and Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam.

These Rhinos are so rare and solitary that scientists are only able to study them through fecal matter and through videos caught by camera traps. Just yesterday a report was released by WWF-Indonesia stating that they had gotten footage of a handful of Rhinos this past November and December, including images of a calf. These images provide some hope, as they demonstrate that the breeding population is viable.

Javan Rhinoceros Browsing

One major threat to the Javan Rhinoceros is poaching. In China, their horns are used in traditional medicines and catch fetch prices as high as $30,000 a piece. Last year one of the few remaining Rhinos was lost to poaching, despite strict measures to guard and protect them.

Javan Rhinos feed by browsing. They even have a long upper lip that helps them to grasp and tear at branches. In regards to other anatomical information, their bodies are covered with skin that folds in a way that looks like they are covered in plates of armor.

Javan Rhinoceroses can live 30-45 years, though the oldest in captivity only made it to 20.

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