Touchstone Energy Environmental Education

Biologists visit Kentucky schools


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Category Albums Files
User galleriesThis category contains albums that belong to Coppermine users.
1 0
Kentucky Critters
Bats
1 13
Birds
6 33
Reptiles
3 55
Wildflowers
3 8
Amphibians
2 50
Spiders and Their Relatives
2 8
167 files in 18 albums and 8 categories with 0 comments viewed 22272 times

Random files
h Hoary Bat - CSC.jpg
Hoary Bat167 viewsPhoto: Touchstone Energy Biologist
j River Cooter with photo credit - JRM.jpg
River Cooter95 viewsPhoto: John MacGregor
n 3 -lined sal JPEG with photo credit.jpg
Three-lined Salamander69 viewsPhoto: John MacGregor
c Box Turtle with photo credit - JRM.jpg
Eastern Box Turtle112 viewsScientific Name: Terrepene c. carolina

Length: 4 - 6; Record 8

Description: Hard black, tan, or brown shell with yellow, orange, or tan pattern. Males typically have red eyes while females usually have brown eyes.

Habitat: Upland woods, pastures, suburbs, and parks.

Habits: In hot weather, will burrow under rotting logs, in mud, or in water. Eat berries, mushrooms, slugs, insects, and small amphibians and reptiles. Lay eggs in loose soil 3 - 4 deep.

Fun Fact: Completely close themselves inside their shells for protection. Can live to be 100 years old!

Photo: John MacGregor
e Cemophora coccinea JRM with photo credit.jpg
Scarlet Snake161 viewsPhoto: John MacGregor
e southeastern - JRM with photo credit.jpg
Southeastern Bat158 viewsPhoto: John MacGregor
ruby-throated hummingbird 1 - DR with photo credit.jpg
Ruby-throated Hummingbird99 viewsScientific Name: Archilochus colubris

Length: 3.75 Wingspan: 4.5 Weight: 0.11 oz

Description: Kentuckys smallest bird is generally metallic green above and grayish below. Males have a bright red, almost iridescent patch under their chin.

Habitat/Occurrence in KY: Suburban areas, gardens, woodland edges and parks. Common summer resident found statewide from April - September.

Habits: Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red and feed on nectar and insects from the tubular flowers of many plants, including columbine, trumpet creeper and jewelweed. They also hover at the edges of spiders webs and pick out entangled insects with their bills.

Fun Fact: Hummingbirds can fly forwards, backwards and can hover in midair. While hovering, a hummingbird beats its wings approximately 80 times per second!

Photo: David Roemer
Barn Owl - JES.jpg
Barn Owl153 viewsPhoto: Touchstone Energy Biologist

Last additions
a tiger-jry.jpg
Tiger Salamander470 viewsPhoto: Touchstone Energy BiologistNov 06, 2006
Kentucky Warbler nest with eggs - BRG.jpg
Kentucky Warbler nest and eggs197 viewsPhoto: Touchstone Energy BiologistNov 06, 2006
Redwing blackbird nest with cowbird eggs.jpg
Red-winged Blackbird nest with eggs279 views(the bottom two speckled eggs are brown-headed cowbird eggs)

Photo: Touchstone Energy Biologist
Nov 06, 2006
Canada Goose eggs - BRG.jpg
Canada Goose nest and eggs251 viewsPhoto: Touchstone Energy BiologistNov 06, 2006
Robin Eggs - BRG.jpg
American Robin nest and eggs250 viewsPhoto: Touchstone Energy BiologistNov 06, 2006
kideer eggs - BRG.jpg
Killdeer eggs183 viewsPhoto: Touchstone Energy BiologistNov 06, 2006
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Common Nighthawk134 viewsScientific Name: Chordeiles minor

Length: 9.5 Wingspan: 24 Weight: 2.2 oz

Description: A mottled, grayish bird with long, pointed wings and characteristic white wing patches that are visible when flying.

Habitat/Occurrence in KY: Cities, towns and other open areas. Most common from May September, statewide.

Habits: Often seen flying at dusk above parking lot lights in pursuit of insects. Eggs are usually laid on gravel rooftops in cities and towns.

Fun Fact: Common Nighthawks are not actually hawks at all. They are in the family of birds called nightjars!

Photo: Touchstone Energy Biologist
Nov 06, 2006
turkey vulture - DR wtih photo credit.jpg
Turkey Vulture180 viewsScientific Name: Cathartes aura

Length: 26 Wingspan: 67 Weight: 4 lbs

Description: Commonly referred to as buzzards, this large, long-winged bird is dark brown to black with a featherless, red head.

Habitat/Occurrence in KY: Open country and woodlands. Common year-round resident found statewide.

Habits: Often seen soaring over open habitats searching for its favorite meal: dead animals, or carrion. Unlike most other birds, vultures have a well-developed sense of smell to help them locate carrion.

Fun Fact: If the young are approached while they are in their nest (typically located on the ground) they will defend themselves by hissing loudly and vomiting!

Photo: David Roemer
Nov 06, 2006