How can green space affect children’s wellbeing?
To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Kate Howlett Museum of Zoology “I’m a PhD researcher in the Museum working on biodiversity within the green spaces in primary school grounds. I’m particularly interested in the diversity of insect and other invertebrate species because this is … Continue reading How can green space affect children’s wellbeing?
Why I’ll be taking part in the Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild this June
Kate Howlett, NERC-funded PhD student says: Have the lockdown restrictions been changing the way we interact with and value nature? It certainly feels that way at the moment: social media is filled with photos people have snapped on their daily walk, along with captions expressing gratitude for their local green patch; a new-found joy in bird watching or a rekindled appreciation for the beauty of … Continue reading Why I’ll be taking part in the Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild this June
Life in the Cold
Right now winter may seem a distant memory, but for animals in and around Antarctica winter is just beginning. In this Nature Classroom we will be exploring some of the adaptations of animals that help them to keep warm when living in the coldest places on Earth. We have investigations about body size, a chance for you to flex your scientific muscles with an experiment … Continue reading Life in the Cold
Coming Soon: Zoology Live!
The Museum is currently closed, but the Museum team has been beavering away preparing something special: our annual Zoology Live festival has moved online. We will be having live online activities from Monday 22 June – Saturday 27 June, with opportunities for you to chat to our experts and find out about the wildlife on your doorstep. Keep an eye on the blog and our … Continue reading Coming Soon: Zoology Live!
Old MacDonald Had A Zoo
Give us a ROAR! Sing along with a favourite nursery rhyme with a Puggle Club twist: Old MacDonald has a zoo… These are the animals we’ve chosen from the Museum. Have we missed any of your favourites? Explore more animal sounds with What Does The Animal Say? Continue reading Old MacDonald Had A Zoo
Build your own Moth Trap
Moths are a widespread and diverse group of insects, but they can often be overlooked. A large part of this is due to many species being active at night, meaning that people have fewer opportunities to interact with them. They also rely heavily on camouflage and have a reputation for being more ‘drab’ in colour than their day-flying butterfly relatives. However, there are many exceptions … Continue reading Build your own Moth Trap
True flies: communicating through vibration
To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Dr Caroline Fabre Department of Zoology “Scientists study the courtship of true flies as it helps us understand how nerves and muscles in the body allow behaviours and communication between individuals. I discovered that flies communicate during courtship … Continue reading True flies: communicating through vibration
Mammals: Otters
Wednesday 27 May 2020 is World Otter Day. To celebrate, explore the otterly fabulous world of the Eurasian otter with us. Not an animal you will see from your window, but if you are very lucky you might see evidence of otters on a walk by your local river or lake. Measuring around a metre from nose to tail, the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra, is … Continue reading Mammals: Otters
Flying Puffin craft
Puffins are excellent seabirds, nesting on cliffs and making the most of the ocean by diving into the waves to catch fish in their brightly-coloured beaks. The birds will dig a nesting burrow into the soil if possible, or find a sheltered ledge on the cliff-face to safely lay their eggs. Puffins can be migratory, meaning that they travel to different locations depending on the … Continue reading Flying Puffin craft
An Insect a Day part 3
The close-up photographs of insects from Prof Bill Amos of the Department of Zoology have given us a wonderful view we don’t usually see of the natural world. Scroll down for the latest batch from his insect photo diary. These beasties are beautiful with fascinating stories too – from wasp mimics to mayflies to an aphid giving birth on camera. Why not have a go … Continue reading An Insect a Day part 3
Animal Alphabet: H is for Hedgehog
Join us every Tuesday as we make an alphabet from the animals in the Museum of Zoology. Today is the letter H: H is for hedgehog, hoopoe, hippopotamus, honeycreepers, hoatzin, horse and heron. Can you think of any others? Join us next week for animals in the Museum beginning with the letters I and J, including a fabulous fossil and a mammal that jumps… Continue reading Animal Alphabet: H is for Hedgehog
The value of gardens for birds
To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Kate Risely British Trust for Ornithology “My work is in monitoring garden wildlife. I’m particularly interested in how birds use the resources in green spaces in our towns and cities, and the benefits to human wellbeing from everyday … Continue reading The value of gardens for birds
Pondwatch Episode 5: Newt Babies
Roz Wade, Learning Officer at the Museum, writes: I do love all things aquatic, so watching of the wildlife in our garden pond has been a real treat. On warm afternoons, the newts have been active and almost posing for me in the middle of the pond. And there is exciting newt news this week: baby newts! They may be small but they are beautiful, … Continue reading Pondwatch Episode 5: Newt Babies
Birds: Pigeon Post
Roz Wade, Learning Officer at the Museum, writes: ‘As our biggest and most common pigeon in the UK, here is a bird you are likely to have seen in your garden, through your window or on a walk. Even if you haven’t seen it you have probably heard it: check out its coo-cooooo-cooooo-coo-coo call on the RSPB website, open your window and have a listen. … Continue reading Birds: Pigeon Post
The impact of stories on wildlife conservation
To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month the Museum is sharing the stories of 27 inspirational women, alongside the animals they work with the most. Anna Guasco Department of Geography “I’m a first-year Geography PhD student studying histories and narratives of grey whales along the North American Pacific Coast. I’m fascinated by the varieties of relationships between people and grey whales, the stories … Continue reading The impact of stories on wildlife conservation
Museum of Zoology Blog 