Butterflies
Butterflies are very colorful and intricate creatures that flutter freely among the beautiful flowers and shrubs on warm days. There are many varieties of butterflies, but the most colorful and popular is the Monarch. The butterfly has one of the most unique life cycles of any creature on Earth. Each one goes through a variety of physical changes, starting out as only an egg and ending as a beautiful butterfly.
A butterfly may lay a single egg or several. It depends on the type of butterfly and the nutrition she has had prior to conceiving. The better health a butterfly is in, the more eggs she will lay at a time. The eggs are laid on various food plants, in areas that are well hidden to protect them from the elements and predators. Most eggs will hatch in approximately ten days, with a small green caterpillar emerging from it. The eggs shell serves as the very first meal for these young caterpillars.
It is amazing just how much food a small caterpillar can consume on a daily basis. The jaws of a caterpillar are very powerful and it is not picky when it comes to nibbling on a variety of foods and plants. Most anything that is edible will be consumed by a caterpillar. As it grows larger, the caterpillar will shed its skin. This will take place several times in its life as a caterpillar.
After a caterpillar has become fully grown, it will enter the next stage of life called pupation. During this time the caterpillar spins a silk pad and then hangs upside down from it. A hormone in the caterpillar begins to make physical changes take place. The caterpillar will remain in this state for approximately two weeks. What emerges is a beautiful butterfly with wings ready to continue life in this new form.
Regardless of the species of butterfly, each one lives a very remarkable life featuring dramatic changes that very few creatures go through. The metamorphous of a butterfly from a caterpillar that hatched from an egg is an unbelievable spectacle to observe. It does make you stop and watch in awe as this new life form emerges.
Monarch Butterfly
Tiger Butterfly
Butterfly Wings
Butterfly Designs
Play the Zoo Keeper Game
Eagles
Eagles are a beautiful bird and a political symbol in the United States. Yet they are also an endangered species. Special interest has been taken to help these beautiful birds even though they are certainly not the only endangered species we are dealing with. There a lot of species that are endangered but Eagles seem to get a lot of attention because how important they are to our nation as a symbol.
In the early days of our nation, the founding fathers entered into a debate about which animal or bird should symbolize our values and ideals. Rumor has it that in addition to people being in support of the eagle, others wanted birds such as the turkey. Benjamin Franklin argued that the turkey was clever and intelligent. Now, when someone is called a “turkey” it is usually in a derogatory manner. It is a good that eagles became our official bird! It is a lot more majestic and beautiful in appearance than the turkey and the eagle has a lot of beauty.
If you are interested in helping the eagles, there are a few things you can do. First, if you are somewhere and you spot an eagle’s nest, it is a good idea to report it so that the officials can come and do their best to protect it. Part of the problem with the eagles and their endangered status is that a good portion of their natural habitat is being destroyed by commercialism and other factors. That leaves a smaller number of options for the eagles to nest and produce offspring. This has led to a decline in the number of eagles that are being born each year which only contributes to the problem
Other things you can do to help the eagles include making monetary donations and supporting groups that help the eagles. You can also volunteer your time. The internet is a good place to go to find resources on eagles. The more you know, the easier it will be to help them. You can also use the internet to help you find organizations that help the eagles. Their situation is improving because of these efforts and with each person who helps, their chances of surviving are much greater.
The Bald Eagle Our National Bird
Eagles The Threatened Species
Eagle Nests
Golden Eagles
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