Wildlife in Full Color - Ohio Department of Natural Resources

PRIMARYSurviving in a Wild WorldW I L D L I F E I N F U L L C O L O Rabitat is the place where an animallives – its home! Some of thehabitats found in our state are forests,grasslands, streams, lakes, and wetlands.Even your backyard and schoolyard canbe habitat for wildlife if you provide thethings that animals need.All animals need food, water, shelter,and space in their habitat to survive. Butsurvival doesn’t stop there! Wildlife havesome totally awesome traits, or “adaptations,”to help them meet the everydaychallenges of their wild world.Adaptations help wildlife move aroundin their habitat, find their next meal,escape from predators (other animalsthat might eat them), survive in winter,and find a mate. Adaptations include keensenses of eyesight, hearing, touch, smell,sounds they make, and special behaviorsthey use. Many adaptations are physicalfeatures such as unique body parts.Color is an adaptation and an animal’scoloring plays a huge role in helping itsurvive – especially in hiding from enemiesand attracting a mate.ACTIVITY: ADAPTATION CONNECTIONDraw a line between the animal and its adaptation ( ) and the way that animal uses the adaptation ( O ). See answers on back coverUses its keen eyesight andhearing to track its prey.Great Horned Owl1. Uses its specially adapted furto gracefully glide about.Southern Flying Squirrel2. Uses its long tongue to drawnectar from plants.Carolina Sphinx Moth3. Buries itself undergroundto hibernate.Midland Painted Turtle4. O Escape Enemies I O Find Food I O Survive in Winter I O Eat its Food I O Hide from Prey I O Protect Young I O Move About5. Hog-Nosed SnakePlays dead when threatenedor approached by a potentialpredator.6. Red-Banded Crab SpiderChanges its color to matchits surroundings in order toattack prey.7. KilldeerDraws attention to itself inorder to lure other animalsaway from the nest.RED-PURPLETER TIARYREDRED-ORANGEPRIMARYTER TIARYSECONDARYPURPLETER TIARYBLUE-PURPLE4WILD OHIO MAGAZINE 2011- 2012BLUE

The Thicket GameW I L D L I F E I N F U L L C O L O Rind some friends and play this versionof the Project WILD activity “TheThicket Game.” (Teachers can find moreinformation about Project WILD by visitingohioprojectwild.com).ACTIVITY: HIDE AND FINDPick one person to be the “predator”and everyone else will be “prey.” Havethe predator close their eyes and countto 20 while all the prey hide. Everyonehiding must be able to see some part ofthe predator at all times.ROUND 1:After the predator counts to 20, theyopen their eyes and begin to look fortheir prey. The predator cannot movefrom where they started, but can lookaround, squat, or stand on their toes. Thepredator should call out the name of eachprey that can be seen and describe wherethey are. Each prey that is found movesto the predator’s location and waits untilthe next round to become a predator.When no more prey can be found, a newround starts.ROUND 2:All predators now close their eyes andcount to 20. Remaining prey must nowmove 10 feet closer to the predators, butstill have to be able to see some part ofat least one predator. Predators have thesame movement restrictions as before,and should take turns calling out the nameof each prey that can be seen and describewhere they are.photo courtesy: ENCHANTED CARE LEARNING CENTER OF GAHANNAORANGESECONDARYSECONDARYPRIMARYYELLOW-ORANGETER TIARYTER TIARYGREENYELLOWYELLOW-GREENBONUS: DOWNLOADABLE WILDLIFE MASKSBrowse and download fun wildlife masks online. Choosefrom 16 masks featuring some of Ohio’s popular wildlife.scan or visitgoo.gl/ckA1LPlay as many rounds as necessary untilonly one or two prey are left. These preycan stand up and reveal their hiding spots.Are you surprised at how close they wereable to get to the predators? How werethey able to do this? What adaptationscould you try to be more successful athiding? Try out some of your ideas andplay again!ATTRIBUTES OF COLOR: HUEHue is the portion of color that is the difference by which one color is distinguished from another.It is what makes red different from yellow and yellow different from blue. To help see the relationshipsbetween hues, they are usually seen in a circle called a color wheel. The color wheel to the left is basedon three main hues; red, blue, and yellow. Varying combinations of these main hues allows the creationof new hues.TER TIARYBLUE-GREEN2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINE5

Color for ProtectionW I L D L I F E I N F U L L C O L O Rfood chain follows the order thatanimals feed on plants and otheranimals. The animals doing the eating arecalled predators, and the animals that geteaten are called prey. Each animal mustfend for itself in the wild. Wild animalsthat don’t want to become prey havecome up with some colorful adaptationsto protect themselves from predators.Camouflage means to blend in or hide.Many wild animals use the color of theirskin, fur, feathers or scales to disguisethemselves in their surroundings. Notevery prey animal has the ability to runfrom or fight a predator, so looking liketheir background makes them harder tosee.Mimicry means to look like or imitatesomething else. If a prey animal doesn’tlook like food it is less likely to be seen bya predator. Many animals have patternsand colors that make them look like twigs,leaves, plants, and even bird droppings!Warning coloration is usually a brightcolor that is used to scare predatorsor warn them that the would-be preydoesn’t taste very good.ACTIVITY: FILL IN THE BLANKRead the information about each animal, then fill in the blank with the type of protection you think it uses;Camouflage, mimicry, or warning coloration. See answers on back coverAmerican Bittern3. ______________________________Viceroy Butterfly1. ______________________________Many people are familiar with themonarch butterfly that is a frequentvisitor to backyard flower gardens, butnot everyone knows the viceroy butterfly.The viceroy is slightly smaller than amonarch, but looks almost identical. Aviceroy has an extra black stripe acrossthe bottom wings and a single row ofwhite dots, but is not different enoughfor a predator to notice. Monarchs arenot good to eat, so if a predator eats one,it will avoid eating a butterfly with thepattern of black and orange.Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar2. ______________________________This caterpillar spends its life eating andeating in preparation for turning into abutterfly, but it has to live long enoughto be able to do so. Since it needs toconsume so much food, it doesn’t havetime to hide from predators. Instead, ithas two large spots on its back that looklike giant eyes. When a predator sees thespots, it might think it is looking at a muchlarger animal and stay away.photo by MICHAEL HODGEThis shy bird spends most of its life inmarshes and wetlands hiding in the plants.If a bittern senses danger, it will stretch itslong neck up as high as possible and pointits bill towards the sky. The striping coloron its neck looks like a patch of grass inthe water. Bitterns will even sway backand-forthwith the breeze!photo by JAMES DIEDRICK6WILD OHIO MAGAZINE 2011- 2012

Walking Stick4. ______________________________A walking stick is an insect that doesjust what its name suggests, it looks likea stick that walks! They are slow-movinginsects with a slender body that can begreen or brown in color. Their threadlikeantennae and long, thin legs help themin their appearance. Since walking sticksfeed on trees and plants, they stay verystill during the day so that birds and otherpredators won’t notice them.photo by JOE LOONGRock Bass5. ______________________________Rock Bass are a freshwater fish thatprefer to live in a stream or a riverwith a rocky bottom. When a predatoris looking for a rock bass, it may beconfused in the difference between therocky bottom and the darker, mottledpattern of the fish’s scales.photo by BRIAN ZIMMERMANWhite-tailed Deer6. ______________________________White-tailed deer were named becauseof the white coloring on the undersideof the tail. When a deer notices danger,it can raise its tail quickly and flash thewhite color as a signal to other deer thatsomething is wrong.photo by KATHRINE CLIFTONGreen Frog7. ______________________________Green frogs can range in color fromgreen to a greenish-brown, and usuallyhave some darker spots on their back.Being an amphibian, they are cold-bloodedand can sit very still in the water for a longtime without getting too cold. Their eyesare positioned on top of their heads sothey can still look out for predators orprey while keeping most of their bodyunderneath the water. When a frog issitting on the edge of a pond or marsh,it is hard for a predator or prey to see itamong all the plants.photo by PAMELA HUGILLATTRIBUTES OF COLOR: CHROMAThe intensity of a color that ranges from its purest state to gray is known as chroma. Chroma is oftenreferred to as the saturation of color. Chroma is the quality by which stronger or more vivid colors aredistingushed from weaker or duller colors.2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINE7

Hey Good Lookin’W I L D L I F E I N F U L L C O L O Row many times have mom or dadsaid, “Eat your vegetables, they aregood for you?” Believe it or not, yourparents are right. Healthy food is just asimportant for young wildlife as it is foryou to grow up healthy and strong. Thehealthier the food is that an animal eats,the better the odds are of growing upstrong, finding a mate, and having healthyyoung. The same thing goes for lookingyour best. Taking a bath, brushing yourteeth, and combing your hair might seemlike things that parents make you dofor no reason, but again, they are right!Think about a cardinal. Some males aremore colorful than others. Male cardinalsare well known for bright red featherson their bodies and those feathers thatstick up on the tops of their heads whichare called “crests.” Female cardinals willchoose a male for his bright color andhis ability to impress her with skills likesinging. He can’t impress anyone with ajunk-food diet or messy feathers!What about females? You may wonderabout the color of her feathers. She doeshave pretty coloration, depending on howyou look at it. Female cardinals are notbright red like the males, but instead havemore brown tones with some light redpeeking out. Both males and females havecrests. Why do you think female cardinalshave more plain colors than the males? Ifyou said to blend in while sitting on theirnests, you got it! Most female birds areresponsible for incubating eggs so theymust be as camouflaged as possible to besafe while sitting on their nests.If Ohio’s state bird doesn’t interest youmuch, what about a fish living in a localpond? Have you ever caught a bluegill?This blue-green sunfish sometimes has asilver or purple look. Sometimes older,stronger males even have orange on theirbellies, which catches the female’s eye.ACTIVITY: IS IT A BOY OR IS IT A GIRL?In the spaces provided, determine the gender of each couple by writing “M” for male and “F” for female. See answers on back coverAmerican redstartphotos by: (1) DAN PANCAMO and (2) JEREMY MEYEREastern tiger swallowtailphotos by JIM McCORMAC1. ________5. ________2. ________6. ________red-winged blackbirdphotos by KELLY COLGAN AZAR3. ________4. ________8WILD OHIO MAGAZINE 2011- 2012

FIREFLYphoto by KEVIN COLLINSFemale bluegills can prefer males withdark flaps over their ears and bold greencheeks. All of these colors can make malebluegills look like fish from the tropics.Male bluegills, just like male cardinals, usecolor as well as behavior to attract thefemales. Some male bluegills use mimicry(to look like something else) to meet thefemales they are most interested in. Theydo this by not being very colorful, so theylook more like females. Then they cansneak by bigger, tougher males. Thesetricky males are called “sneakers.” Theyprove that boys don’t always have to lookfancy to get the girl!Speaking of fancy, have you everseen a bright little bug that servesas its own night light when you areplaying outside after dark? Unlike thecolors in bird feathers or fish scales,fireflies, also called lightning bugs, usecolor in one of the neatest ways on theplanet to attract mates. Their abdomensglow! Fireflies blink at each other, whichis a type of communication. If a femalelikes what a blinking male has to say, shewill flicker her beautiful yellow light athim, which is an invitation to come closer.Some females like males who flash slowlywhile others prefer males who flash fast.Another interesting thing about fireflies isthat they glow even when they are young.Baby fireflies glow bright, neon green andthe yellow color develops brighter andstronger as they grow up.No matter what kind of critter we talkabout, all wild animals use appearance insome way to attract mates. Whether theyshow off fancy feathers, pretty scales, orglowing bellies, the way they look helpsdetermine how successful they will be asmates. Always remember, eat healthy andtake pride in your appearance and yourefforts will pay off!mallardphotos by: (7) DERRICK COETZEEand (8) MIKE BAIRDblack & yellow garden spiderphotos by DANNY BROOKS9. ________7. ________10. ________Eastern pondhawkphotos by ELIZABETH NICODEMUS12. ________8. ________11. ________ATTRIBUTES OF COLOR: VALUE (TINT)Value is the range of lightness or darkness within a hue. The aspect of value that uses lightness isknown as tint. A tint is the combination of any color plus white. The tint range includes any hue on thecolor wheel up to pure white.2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINE9

People, Wildlife, and ColorW I L D L I F E I N F U L L C O L O Rometimes one of the biggest challengesfor wildlife is protection fromhumans. The beautiful color of some wildlifeis one reason that certain species havedwindled over time.At one time, adding showy feathers towomen’s hats was a fashion statement.It became so popular in Europe and theUnited States that thousands of birds werekilled all over the world to supply thehat trade. Feathers from egrets, herons,swans, terns, and gulls were often used,and even entire songbirds were stuffedand attached to women’s hats. Sometimeswhole colonies of birds were killed duringthe breeding season when their featherswere the most vibrant. And some birds,like the Carolina parakeet, even became“extinct.” Extinct means that an animalthat once existed is no longer foundanywhere in the world!Early in our country’s history, therewere no laws to see that wildlife populationsdid not become depleted. Today,laws are in place to make sure fish andwildlife populations stay healthy. Wildlifeofficers from the Division of Wildlife carryout these laws. Besides the illegal takingof wild animals, loss of habitat, chemicals,and pollution are threats to wildlife.There are also laws to protect wildlifefrom threats, too.For example, the populations of baldeagles, peregrine falcons, and ospreydeclined drastically from the 1940s to1970s because of the use of pesticides.With habitat management programs andlaws that ban the use of certain pesticides,these three birds of prey havemade a remarkable comeback in recentyears. The birds are doing so well in theBuckeye State that they were upgradedfrom endangered to threatened just a fewyears ago.ACTIVITY: ONLINE MULTIPLE CHOICECircle the correct letter in the multiple-choice questions. Go to wildohio.com to find theanswers. (On the Division of Wildlife homepage, click on “Wildlife Resources,” then click on“Endangered and Threatened Wildlife” on the left side of the page.) See answers on back cover1. What is an “extirpated” species?a. A species that exfoliates its skin.b. A species that is extinct.c. A species that once lived in Ohio, but has sincedisappeared from the state.2. What is an “endangered” species?a. A species of animal whose population numbers arelow enough to face possible extirpation or extinction.b. A species that will no longer live in your backyard.c. A species that is no longer found in our state.3. What is a “threatened” species?a. A species that is afraid of humans.b. A species whose survival is not in immediate jeopardy,but to which a threat exists.c. A species that is eaten by another species.5. How many species have been extirpated from Ohio?a. 32 b. 36 c. 516. How many bird species are listed under thespecial categories (from extinct to endangered)?a. 21 b. 77 c.1417. Which two animal classifications have the mostspecies that are at risk of becoming extinct?a. Butterflies and Mothsb. Reptiles and Amphibiansc. Fishes and Mollusks8. How many total Ohio speciesare endangered or threatened?a. 180 b. 191 c.1984. How many species of wildlife currently live in Ohio?a. 305 b. 630 c. 1,020GREAT EGRETby JOE LOO10WILD OHIO MAGAZINE 2011- 2012

ACTIVITY: COLOR BY NUMBERUse the color key below to see whatthe Carolina parakeet looked like. Usecolored pencils, crayons, or markers tocomplete the “color by number” activity.LOST TO EXTINCTIONOne of the most beautiful birds toever grace Ohio’s skies was the Carolinaparakeet. These colorful birds, the onlynative parrot in eastern North America,were once common in southwest Ohio,especially in the Cincinnati area. Theirnumbers decreased from loss of habitatas forests were cut down to make wayfor agriculture. Many were killed for theirbright feathers for use in the hat trade,and some were captured and caged aspets. They were also killed for the damagethey did to fruit trees and crops.By the late 1830s, none of these beautifulbirds were left in Ohio. The last wildparakeet was killed in Florida in 1913.The last captive bird died at the CincinnatiZoo in 1918 – EXTINCT!1 Light Green2 Green3 Dark Green4 Indigo5 Violet6 Dark Red7 Red8 Orange9 YellowATTRIBUTES OF COLOR: VALUE (SHADE)Value is how lighter colors are distinguished from darker ones. The portion of value that uses darkercolors is known as shade. A shade is the combination of any color plus black. The shade range includesany hue on the color wheel down to pure black.2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINE11

hio’s mammals come in all kindsof shapes and sizes, from the tinymouse living in a barn to the big blackbear living in the forest. However, whenit comes to color, mammals are not asdiverse or colorful as other animals likebirds or insects. Most mammals lookdull in color. Their hair or fur is usuallybrown, gray, black, or white. Take a closerlook and you’ll find that every color andpattern has a purpose!BLENDING INSometimes, people say “you are whatyou eat.” For mammals, they are wherethey live! Animals often look the way theydo because of their habitat. Mammalshave colors to help them blend in withtheir background. Blending in is calledcamouflage, and it helps animals hide frompredators and prey. The gray squirrel’sgray fur helps it blend in with the roughbark of a tree when it holds very still.Mice, bats, rabbits, deer, and many othermammals are also gray or brown to matchthe colors of the forest and brushy habitatsthey live in.Some mammals have color patterns ontheir bodies to blend in with the background.The chipmunk is usually lookingfor food beneath trees. The dark and lightstripes down its back help it blend in withstreaks of sunlight and shadows from thetrees on the ground. The thirteen-linedground squirrel also uses a color patternto match its habitat. Its many brown andlight colored stripes make it very hard tosee in the grass of a sunny prairie.BE ON THE LOOKOUTBecause most mammals are very goodat hiding, it can be hard to spot oneoutside. But with a little patience, youmight get lucky. Knowing where to lookand what to look for helps too. Be still,quiet, and look closely for out of placeshapes among the colors. Don’t give upif you don’t see anything right away. Thechallenge is always exciting!

COLOR SCHEME: MONOCHROMATICMonochromatic color schemes consist of a single hue that is extended through it use of value and chroma.This enhanced single hue is more subtle and peaceful due to its lack of contrast.CHANGING COLORSIf you think blending in with sunlight,shadows, trees, and grass is cool, checkthis out: some mammals can change thecolor of their fur when the colors of theirhabitat change! The snowshoe hare andthe three types of weasels in Ohio (theshort-tailed, long-tailed, and least) can allchange from brown in the summer towhite in the winter.ACTIVITY: HOW MANY MAMMALS?Hidden in the woodland scene below are 11 mammals for you to find. Use the listbelow to help you locate all 11 of Ohio’s wonderful mammals. See answers on back coverThese little mammals’ brown fur isgood in the summer because it helps themto hide in meadows, fields, and brushyareas. But when the snow falls and theworld turns white, a little brown bodywould stand out in the snow, and a hungrypredator might see them. Luckily, with theability to change to a white coat in thewinter, weasels and the snowshoe hareare still rarely seen.So, how do they do it? Mammals changingfur coats in the wild is not the sameas humans changing from spring jackets towinter coats. When the seasons change,the colder weather makes the mammal’sbody shed its brown coat and grow awhite coat for the colder season. Naturecan do some amazing things!WARNING SIGNSIt doesn’t stop there; colors do somuch more than just help an animal hide.Mammals can also use colors on theirbodies to tell each other things. Theydon’t even have to make a sound. Blackand white stripes are a warning sign tolet predators know that skunks have astrong and stinky defense system, so theybetter back off. White-tailed deer warneach other that danger is near by runningwith their tails up. This shows their whitewarning “flag.” Black Bear Bobcat Cotton-tailed Rabbit Deer Mouse Gray Squirrel Groundhog Least Weasel Raccoon Red Fox Striped Skunk White-tailed Deer2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINE13

COLOR in Fishh e n y o ut h i n k o fcolorful fish, youmight think of brightlittle darters, or acolorfully named fish like the rainbowtrout. There aren’t very many colorfulfish, right? Wrong! All fish are colorful,but they are not all brightlyor vibrantly colored. Fishhave several color adaptationsfor living life underwater. Likeall of the other wildlife in Ohio, fishuse color for survival, protection, andfinding a mate.THE COLOR OF SURVIVALHave you ever looked into a pool of acreek or the edge of a pond and thought,“there’s nothing in there!” Finding fishunderwater is tricky, but here’s a hint– stay still. Smaller fish, like minnowsin a creek, will hold still when they seeanything moving in or above the water.Once you are still and they feel safe, theywill begin moving again. Why was it sohard to see them when they were still?You guessed it, camouflage keeps themfrom being seen.Many fish have similar camouflagepatterns. When you look at a fish, theirtopside is dark-colored, banded, ormottled. This helps them blend in whensomething (or someone) is looking downat them from above. The dark color helpsthem blend into the dark depths of thewater or the bottom of the creek or lake.When you look at the underside, or thebelly of a fish, you will see that it is lightcolored.This helps them blend in whensomething is looking up at them frombelow. The light color of their bellieshelps them blend into the light color ofthe sky and the light above water.

COLOR SCHEME: COMPLEMENTARYComplementary colors are opposite of each other on the color wheel. The high contrast between huescreates a vibrant look, especially when used at full saturation.THE COLOR OF SCIENCEPeople have studied fish for a long time.The more biologists learn about fish, themore they can learn about their habits,their habitats, and their needs for survival.Fish biologists study fish populations andhabitat. Biologists weigh, measure, andage millions of fish to study how healthytheir populations are. How do they gettheir hands on large numbers of fish? Theanswer may shock you.Biologists use color of fish to theiradvantage. You know the commonpattern of a fish, the darker side is on thetop and the lighter side is on the bottomof a fish. Biologists use a technique called“electro shocking” to temporarily still aswimming fish. A carefully regulated electriccurrent is sent through the water,and the fish will flip upside-down. Biologistsare ready with nets so when they seethose white bellies, they scoop up the fish,gather information, and then return therecovered fish to the water.THE COLOR OF THE CATCHTake a stroll through any store thatsells fishing tackle or artificial bait and youwill see a rainbow of colors. Anythingfrom bright red, to “pumpkinseed,” tochartreuse, anglers keep a huge selectionof color in their tackle boxes because fishwill sometimes choose one color of baitover another. When anglers bait theirhook, they are trying to mimic food thatthe fish might eat. If the bait looks enoughlike food, the fish will bite. There arevarious reasons for deciding which bait touse. Anglers are trying to catch fish bycatching their eye. If the water is murkyor not clear, anglers will use brightercolored bait so the fish can see it better.If the water is clear and the bait is morevisible to the fish, colors that are morenatural are used.FISH FLOP: the different colorsof a white bassACTIVITY: A COLORFUL CROSSWORDFill in the fish’s name that contains a color or pattern. See answers on back cover312ACROSS 3. ____ catfish4. ____ darter5. ____ worm6. ____ sunfish7. ____ crappie8. ____ perch9. ____ bass456789DOWN 1. southern ____ dace2. ____ trout4. ____ sunfish6. ____ redhorse2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINE15

hio’s insects are found in a rainbowof color. From the jet black Americanoil beetle to the bright yellow Easterntiger swallowtail butterfly, the colorsfound on these tiny animals will amaze acareful observer.You have probably seen red ladybugsflying outside and black ants crawling onthe ground, but there are thousandsof other insects that call Ohiohome, each with their owncolors and patterns.Like all animals, insects use colors tohelp them survive, either by helping themto hide, warning predators not to eatthem, or by attracting a mate. What kindof insect uses camouflage to hide on treesor in grasses?_______________ (hint on pg 7)What kinds of butterflies use bright colorsas a warning that they taste bad or arepoisonous if eaten?__________ (hint on pg 6)What kinds of insects use flashes oflight to attract males to mate with?_________________ (hint on pg 9)Every once in a while, weird thingshappen in the insect world. In 2009, notjust one, but two pink katydids werediscovered in their normal prairie habitat.Pink is not a color that you normally seeon katydids!So how do all of these colors, each withtheir own meaning or message, come tobe?There are two ways that insects gettheir color – pigments and structure.Pigments are chemicals inside theinsect’s body that absorb or reflect light,which your eyes see as colors. Usually,pigments are “warm” colors, like red,orange, or yellow. Your skin color is alsocaused by pigments in your skin tissue.

COLOR SCHEME: SPLIT COMPLEMENTARYSplit complementary color combinations consist of a foundation hue and two colors equally spaced oneach side of its opposite color on the color wheel. This color scheme has the same strong visual contrastas the complementary color scheme.Other colors are created by lightreflecting off of the structure, or shape,of the insect’s body. Over the soft tissuein the body of an insect are two layersof material, together they are called thecuticle. One layer is waxy and waterresistantand the other is hard and madeof chitin, a substance also found in crustaceanshells.ACTIVITY: OBSERVATION CHARTGrab a notebook and spend five minutes in your favorite outdoor area looking carefullyfor insects. Search on trees, flowers, grass, and even swing sets for these tinyanimals. Keep track of how many insects you see and what colors they are. You do notneed to know the names of all the insects, just write down your observations of theircolor, shape, and size.Create a bar graph by filling in a square for each insect of that color you see.(example: you saw (3) red bugs, so you fill in ( ) boxes)When light passes through the insect’scuticle, it bounces off the layers of materials,like light bounces through a prism. Thebouncing light appears to you as differentcolors. Usually, this bouncing light givesinsects “cool” colors like purple, blue, andgreen.1098765Sometimes, depending on the way youlook at an insect, it may look like it ischanging colors. This is called iridescence.You can see great examples of iridescenceon dragonfly wings and tiger beetles.Other insects, like the metallic woodboringbeetle, have a metallic shine totheir bodies. Both iridescence and metalliccolors are created by the structure ofan insect’s body.4321BLACKBROWNREDORANGEYELLOWGREENBLUEINDIGOVIOLETWHITEClose observation can help you seea whole new rainbow of color outside.Your challenge is to find as many differentcolored insects as possible. The graph onthe this page will help you track whichcolors you see most often.BLUEBOTTLE FLYby DANNY BROOKSTRUE KATYDIDby JIM M C CORMACIS A SPIDER AN INSECT?While they may seem like the samecrawling creatures, there are definite differencesbetween spiders and insects.Here are a few: Spiders have a total of eight legs (comparedto an insect’s six legs). A spider’s body is two parts, cephalothoraxand abdomen, unlike the three--part head-thorax-abdomen of an insect. Most insects have wings - spiders don’t.BOXELDERby LISA BROWNWhat colors did you find most often? ___________________________Why do you think you found those colors more than the other colors?2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINEPLUME MOTHby DANNY CHAPMAN17

COLOR in Birdsirror, mirror on the wall, who’s thefairest of them all?Birds, with maybe the exception oftropical fish and insects, are hands downthe most colorful creatures on earth! Justthink of the different colored birds thatyou have seen in your yard, at the park,along a trail or at the beach.Birds use color to advertise for a mate,to conceal themselves, to protect theirterritory, to feed their young, to identifythemselves to other members of theirflock, and maybe just to delight our eyes!COLORFUL BIRD NAMESMany birds that we see in Ohio havea color right in their name. The colorusually describes a part of the bird’sbody such as the head, crown, neck, eye,wing, legs, back, throat, belly, cheek orbreast. There are birds with names likeyellow-headed blackbird, white-crownedsparrow, black-necked stilt, white-eyedvireo, red-winged blackbird, greateryellowlegs, ruby-throated hummingbird,red-bellied woodpecker, gray-cheekedthrush, and rose-breasted grosbeak.An Ohio bird checklist (a list where youkeep track of all the species of birds thatyou see) lists 300 species of birds, and94 of them have a color as part of theirname. For mathematicians out there, youcan calculate that almost one-third of thebirds in Ohio have a color in their name!ACTIVITY: BIRDING CHECKLISTCreate a checklist of your bird observations!Keep track of the birds you see.Each time you add a bird to your list, youcan record when and where you saw it.Sometimes “birders” (people who gobirdwatching) will also record what thebird was doing (flying, feeding, perching,etc.) when they saw it.

COLOR SCHEME: TRIADICTriadic combinations are composed of three hues that are distributed at equal distances on a color wheel.These schemes tend to be quite vibrant, even with pale or unsaturated hues.COLORFUL FEATHERSA bird’s feathers come in a rainbow ofcolors. The colors in feathers are formedin two different ways, from pigments orfrom light refraction. Refraction is theturning or bending of light waves as itpasses from one surface into another.If you find a blue jay feather, you cansee for yourself how refraction works.First, observe the feather in normallight. You should see the expected bluecolor. Next, try putting a light behind thefeather. When light is transmitted throughthe feather, it will look brown.Some birds are iridescent, which meanstheir feathers disperse many colors whenviewed at different angles and in differentlight. Take a look at the ruby throat onthe ruby-throated hummingbird, or theshiny head of a grackle. At first glance,it may look dark, but when the light hitsjust right, the color is brilliant!Pay attention to color patterns on birdsthe next time you are outside. Noticehow certain field marks, like eye rings orwing bars, can be very boldly colored. Thetip of the cedar waxwing’s tail looks likeit is dipped in yellow paint. Not all birdswant to stand out. Some birds’ coloringhelps to “disrupt” or break up theirappearance making it harder to see them.This is called disruptive coloration and isvery easy to see in birds like the killdeer.The alternating bands of white and blackon the head and neck break up the outlineof the bird. This makes it more difficultto see the bird against a multi-coloredbackground.CROWN/CRESTTHROATEYE LINE/RINGBREASTCHEEK/MOUSTACHESHOULDERWINGBARFLANKRUMPTAILHOW BIRDS USE COLORIn the bird world, the male is usuallythe more colorful one, and with goodreason. The male bird uses his brightcolors to attract a mate, while the female,who sits at the nest with eggs and young,does not want to be noticed. She wantsto blend in with her surroundings and notattract predators. Color can be used tostand out and to hide!Another way that color is used inbirds is to identify themselves to othermembers of their flock. Color patterns insome shorebirds and waterfowl in flightcan be very distinctive. The color insideof the mouths of hungry chicks stimulatesthe parents to feed the young.Any way you look at it, from names,to feathers, to even their eggs, birdsare very colorful. The next time youare outside, take note of how manydifferent colored birds you can find.Which bird do you think is “the fairestof them all?”ACTIVITY: BIRDS OF A FEATHER MATCH TOGETHERUse the pictures below to help match the feathers to the correct bird.See answers on back cover1. _______ Barn Owl2. _______ Great Horned Owl3. _______ Wild Turkey4. _______ Pheasant5. _______ Wood Duck6. _______ Mallard2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINE19

COLOR in Amphibianshen we think about amphibians,many people think about frogs.These green, slimy, water-loving crittersare just one of more than 40 species ofamphibians that call Ohio home. Toadsand salamanders are also amphibians.Amphibians share several common traits:Lay eggs in water or damp placesYoung go through a larval stageBreathe through gills or skinAre cold-bloodedLive on land and in water as adultsHave moist skinSome amphibians use their green,brown, or gray colors to blend in withtheir environment. Like camouflage, thecolors allow the animal to hide fromdanger. Some are able to blend in with theleaves on the forest floor or the bark of atree. In tropical climates, some amphibianshave a stripe down the center of theirback. When they sit in the center of atree leaf the stripe looks like a leaf vein!

COLOR SCHEME: ANALOGOUSAnalogous color schemes use hues that are next to each other on the color wheel. This correlationgenerally matches well to create serene and harmonious visuals. Analogous color schemes are oftenfound in nature and tend to be pleasing to the human eye.FROGSTree frogs are amphibians that use theircolors to blend in with their habitat. Eventhough these perching chirpers are mostactive at night, they can still become foodfor other animals. Since these little frogsmake a lot of noise during the spring, asharp-eared predator could easily findthem. Being able to rely on color to hidefrom predators is a must. The noisy littlefrogs are trying to attract mates, and justone frog can call more than 90 times inone minute! The male tree frog can callfor nearly four hours a night, and themating season will last up to eight weeks.The tree frog’s camouflage keeps the songof spring safe and on key.Bullfrogs and green frogs don’t wear acamouflaged pattern like the tree frog, butan all-green body is sometimes all it takesto blend in. Frogs are generally found inwet habitats. Most ponds, streams, andlakes supply plenty of green plants to hidein. The weedy, muddy banks along theedge of the water can be a great placefor bullfrogs and green frogs to burrowand hide.If amphibians use colors and patternsto keep them safe, how can people findthem? You may see close-up photos ofamphibians and wonder how on earth doessomeone get those photos? There areseveral ways to get up close and personalwith amphibians. Not only will you endup with some photo memories, but you’llget a look at these animals in their naturalhabitat. You could also submit your informationfrom a day of looking for amphibiansto the Ohio Environmental Council’s(OEC) Vernal Pool Monitoring program.To find out more visit theoec.org.Habitat is the key to finding subjects foryour photos. Look in field guides to findTOADSToads, the dry-skinned cousin of thefrog, make their homes in areas that fitthe color and pattern of their bumpybrown skin. The American toad requiresboth land and water habitats. Most toadsprefer shallow bodies of water, such astemporary pools, ditches, or shallowportions of streams for breeding andlaying eggs. On land, toads seek hidingplaces under boardwalks, flat stones, logs,woodpiles or other similar cover. A greatplace to find this bumpy buddy is along thefoundation of your home or barn. Theycan also make a home in your flower bedsand gardens. They blend well with the soiland the texture of their skin makes themlook like clumps of dirt. No matter whatstory you hear, you will not get warts ifyou gently touch a toad to examine theirskin. Just be sure to always wash yourhands after touching any amphibian. Aneven safer way to enjoy them is quietobservation.PHOTOGRAPHYout if the habitat for the animal you wantto photograph can be found in your area.Try the A-Z Species Guide found at wildohio.com.Some species can only be foundin very specific areas of the state. Luckily,there are several common amphibiansfound in Ohio. Endangered or threatenedspecies are not easy to find even if you arein the right habitat. Stick to the commonones and you will be rewarded.Timing is something to think aboutin your search for amphibian photos orobservations. Some salamanders areactive as early as mid-February, withothers waiting until early May to emerge.The key to seeing salamanders is to waitSALAMANDERSA brightly colored salamander may notbe able to blend with its background, butit can use color to warn predators thatit is not good to eat. Color can tell apredator that the prey will be venomous,poisonous or just plain taste bad.The red-spotted newt starts its lifeliving on land, sporting skin that is a brightorange-red color. Although it is easy tosee on the forest floor during this red-eftstage, other animals seldom bother itbecause its skin produces irritating secretions.This newt can be found in Ohio inpermanent or semi-permanent bodies ofwater bordered by relatively undisturbedwoodlands. During the third year of life,the newt’s color changes to a drab yellowand green with orange spots on its sides.The skin becomes very slimy and the adultreturns to live its life in the water.Another brightly colored salamander isthe midland mud. Stout-bodied with shortlegs and tail, midlands are usually pink orsalmon colored with black spots. Since thecolor makes them easy to spot, they hideunder large rocks in muddy areas.until they start to migrate to vernal pools.This generally happens on cloudy, rainynights when the temperatures finallyreach the low 50s F. Multiple nights ofthis weather can be the best opportunityto see more than one type of amphibian.If you can’t get out at night, try a daytimetrip to a vernal pool or wetland. You cansurvey the water’s surface looking forevidence of amphibian action. Sometimesegg masses can be detected floating on thesurface of the water or attached to treesthat may be partially submerged in thewater. Adult amphibians can sometimesbeen seen at the water’s edge or along thefloor of the pool.2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINE21

nlike people, most young reptilesare born without parents to lookafter them. Luckily, mother nature is ontheir side. Young reptiles are camouflagedto help them have a better chanceof surviving their youth. Unlike the dull,drab colors of camoflauge, some reptilesuse bright colors and patterns when theyare young to help them survive to adulthood.BRIGHTER IS BETTERThe common five-lined skink lives underthe bark of rotting logs, rock piles orin decaying leaf piles. It has five creamcoloredstripes that run from the tipof its nose to the tip of its tail. The tailof the five-lined skink starts bright bluewhen it is young and becomes grayas it gets older. This bright bluecolor attracts predators tothe tail, which detacheswhen pulled, allowingthe skink toget away with all of its important bodyparts. Their tail can grow back later.Eastern box turtles can be found inwoodlands throughout Ohio. They havea high-domed shell that is dark brown orblack with yellow blotches and streaks.The bright pattern helps them blend inwith leaves on the ground, especially withthe yellow leaves of the tulip poplar tree.Young Eastern box turtles have brighteryellow markings to help them blend better,keeping them safer from predators.The Lake Erie watersnake lives near therocky shoreline of Lake Erie on groundthat is covered with leaves, rotting wood,and soil. Their back is gray with darkcrossbands and their belly is a pale whiteor cream color. When the watersnakesare young, the markings on their backare much brighter, helping them blendinto the rocky shoreline. Their pale bellyhelps them blend into the sun when apredator is looking up at them as theyfloat in the water. As Lake Erie watersnakesget older, the crossbands on theirback fade and they become a solid gray.

COLOR SCHEME: SPLIT ANALOGOUSSimilar to analogous relationships, split analogous features a main hue and two other hues oneach side, but at one space away on the color wheel.ACTIVITY: WILDLIFE WORD SEARCHUse the key to the right to find all 26 words. See answers on back coverA C O L O R R O C K S S Z A M D D J J BM Y K D I N V M P C E C S K N T S P J ZP X P Y B N H Q V A R T A R Q Z U Y X EH C X E N L P I V O W S C L N Y E A E GI D W Y M S M S T F D F B S E Z P Z R AB N E E A I N A M E L A R C I S I P P LI E Y N M N D X G W S E R C A R G J I FA U S I E E T T E N H A R J O S K J X UN V C S R T C R M T X K Y L N Y C E M OS R Z P I N A W A P P Y M O N O X A T MY U N O I T C E T O R P I R U B M S C AZ H Z T Y T F R R E L T M Q J M S T R CS D X J N A E S T H A E V S A W S A E DI E V S R P D L T T T L C L D C O T T VX H W S T M E O P C X S S P W X O I A PB B A I K H N A O X E E D W M T N B W PQ P L K S I D A I P H S C R W J Z A U ML E E N D A N G E R E D N A I G F H W AS D O O F Y E R P F I S H I P B U Y S UR A O G J T B W N T Z P C W H S R W Z HWORD KEYAdaptationsAmphibiansBirdsCamouflageColorEndangeredExtinctFeathersFishFoodFurHabitatInsectsMammalsMimicryPredatorPreyProtectionReptilesScalesShelterSkinSpaceTaxonomyThreatenedWaterACTIVITY: WILDLIFE WORLD SEARCHYou’ve found the words on paper, now find them in the real world! See if you canlocate and record, sketch, or photograph each of the taxonomy groups listed below.FIND 6 BIRDSFIND 5 insectsFIND 3 mammalsFIND 3 amphibiansLAKE ERIE WATERSNAKEphoto by BENNEY MAZURFIND 3 reptilesFIND 2 Fishbonus: FIND 2 spiders2011 - 2012 WILD OHIO MAGAZINE23