Branchiostoma Image credit Elia Benito Gutierrez
Research Stories

“Not a fish but the ‘making of’ a fish.”

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 Elia Benito-Gutierrez Department of Zoology “I still remember the day I was told about amphioxus in my first year of University. A fish that was not a fish but the ‘making of’ a fish. Hiding in the … Continue reading “Not a fish but the ‘making of’ a fish.”

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Large white on thistle Wicken Fen. Credit Andrew Bladon
Wildlife from your Window

White and yellow butterflies

Matt Hayes, Research Assistant writes: Whilst everyone is being asked to stay at home it’s important that we continue to look outside and engage with the natural world. To help with this, we are going to be blogging about wildlife you can see from your window or in your garden. This set of posts will look at different groups of common butterflies as well as … Continue reading White and yellow butterflies

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Photograph of the head of a frog from above
Crafty Creatures

Jumping for Joy: Frog crafts

At this time of year, ponds around the country are home to jelly-like masses of frogspawn and the small, wriggling tadpoles that have hatched from it. Check out our first pondwatch post and you can see frogspawn and tadpoles up close. We thought we could celebrate with some froggy activities and facts for you. Frog Origami Follow the video to make your own jumping frog … Continue reading Jumping for Joy: Frog crafts

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taxidermy blue tit at the Museum of Zoology
Wildlife from your Window

Birds: Blue tits and their relatives

Are you playing our Open Your Window Bingo? Discover more about some of the colourful garden birds that feature on it: blue tits, great tits and long-tailed tits. A flash of yellow, blue and green in the air – blue tits are colourful little birds often seen on bird feeders. They eat insects, caterpillars and seeds. We see bright colours and patterns when we see … Continue reading Birds: Blue tits and their relatives

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Smooth-billed ani eating chick. Credit J. Lynton-Jenkins
Research Stories

Smooth-billed anis in the Galápagos

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. Sophia Cooke Department of Zoology “Alongside my PhD (looking at the impacts of roads on British birds), for the last few years I have been running a project I set up in the Galápagos, studying the impact of … Continue reading Smooth-billed anis in the Galápagos

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Wildlife from your Window

Pondwatch Episode 2: Ed Turner

We’re back with another episode of Pondwatch. This time, Dr Ed Turner, our Curator of Insects, will be taking you pond-dipping and introducing you to some of the invertebrates living in his garden pond. Don’t have a pond but you’re thinking of creating one? Now is the perfect time. There are some brilliant websites out there with hints and tips on how to do this. … Continue reading Pondwatch Episode 2: Ed Turner

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Cuckoo egg in host nest. Credit Claire Spottiswoode
Crafty Creatures, Wildlife from your Window

Cryptic Egg Hunt

The Museum of Zoology team has an affinity towards eggs, from Darwin’s egg to platypus eggs, especially around this time of year. Spring offers the chance to see new generations hatching from a variety of eggs and the arrival of the chocolate kind for many of us. This year we are bringing the eggs to you with a virtual cryptic egg hunt. Egg Hunt Dr … Continue reading Cryptic Egg Hunt

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Insect hotel with three sections
Wildlife from your Window

A warm welcome for minibeasts

Even a small garden can provide a home for several thousand species of insects and other minibeasts. Although a very small minority may not be popular guests, the vast majority will undertake important natural processes and improve the health of your garden. Many will pollinate your plants, break down decaying material to fertilise your soil and even eat the few ‘pests’ that may be causing … Continue reading A warm welcome for minibeasts

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Swallowtail caterpillar UMZC collection
Research Stories

Do caterpillars like it hot?

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. Esme Ashe-Jepson Museum of Zoology “My PhD investigates the effect of temperature on British butterflies, focusing on caterpillars, using a mix of both lab and field research. As each life stage of a butterfly varies in both form … Continue reading Do caterpillars like it hot?

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Small White feeding on flower. Credit Andrew Bladon
Wildlife from your Window

Gardening for butterflies

Matt Hayes, Research Assistant writes: Whilst everyone is being asked to stay at home it’s important that we continue to look outside and engage with the natural world. To help with this, we are going to be blogging about wildlife you can see from your window or in your garden. This set of posts will look at different groups of common butterflies as well as … Continue reading Gardening for butterflies

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Robin specimen at the Museum of Zoology
Wildlife from your Window

Birds: Meet the Robin

Roz Wade, Learning Officer a the Museum, writes: We are starting our Birdwatch series on the blog with one of our favourite British birds: the robin, Erithacus rubecula. With its cheerful red breast, the robin provides a flash of colour throughout the year. Seen one? It’s worth three points on our Open Your Window Bingo Like many people, a robin was my ‘starter bird’ for … Continue reading Birds: Meet the Robin

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