Monarch butterflies live in North, Central, and South America as well as Australia, some Pacific Islands, India, and Western Europe. They’re on the endangered species list. Find out how you can help protect their habitat.
Toward the end of winter, the monarchs in Mexico and California mate.
Get the scoop on the history of the Olympics.
And in 1924, the Winter Olympics were added to showcase chillier sports such as cross-country
Sweden is in the geographical region known as Scandinavia in northern Europe.
But winter lasts until May and the nights are long and the days are short.
Take this just-for-fun personality quiz to find out which type of explorer you’re most like.
down sidewalk: Susan Leggett, Dreamstime; family in car: Arne9001, Dreamstime; winter
Are you fierce and focused, or dreamy and dramatic? Maybe you’re somewhere in between. Take this just-for-fun personality quiz to find out which ancient Greek god or goddess you’re most like!
; Dolphin: Duncan Noakes, Dreamstime; Beach in Mirror: Energeizer, iStockphoto; Winter
Learn how you can help save animals on Valentine’s Day!
Craft corner Valentine’s Day Here’s why we celebrate friendship on this winter holiday
Greetings, Earthling. Ever wonder what it would be like to live on another planet? Take this only-for-laughs quiz to find out where in the universe you should call home.
Dreamstime (dust); Fotmen, iStockphoto (beach scene); Andrew_Mayovskyy, iStockphoto (winter
An American goldfinch soars through the warm spring air, it’s yellow feathers reflecting the sun. Suddenly the bird opens its mouth and chirps a call that sounds like “po-ta-to-chip.” This flier isn’t looking for a salty snack. It’s using this vocalization to communicate with its flock. The bird flies on, continuing its delicious call.
During the winter, both males and females boast brownish feathers on their bodies
Leatherback sea turtles are the biggest turtles on Earth. An adult leatherback sea turtle is generally longer than an average-size man is tall. Unlike other species of sea turtles, which have hard shells, the leatherback’s shell is leathery; it feels almost rubbery. The shell is black, often speckled with white or yellow spots. These huge reptiles lived 100 million years ago—during the age of dinosaurs—but their future is uncertain. Leatherbacks are one of the more endangered creatures on Earth. They are often caught by accident in fishing nets. Stuck underwater, they drown. Sea turtle nesting habitats are also being destroyed, and the eggs they do lay are illegally collected by people for food. Newly hatched sea turtles instinctively head from the nest to the sea, but in areas where people live, the hatchlings often become confused by lights from houses built along shore. Instead of heading to sea, they head toward the lights. Another hazard for sea turtles is floating plastic trash, which they often mistake for jellyfish, their main food. Leatherbacks must breathe air at the surface, but can stay underwater for up to 35 minutes at a time. Only females ever leave the ocean. During nesting season, the female comes ashore on a sandy beach, where she digs a hole. She lays about 100 eggs in the hole, covers them with sand, and heads back to sea. Sea turtles do not guard their nests, so the babies are on their own. The eggs take about two months to hatch. The tiny hatchlings are only 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) long. As soon as they hatch, they dig their way out of the sandy nest and scurry across the beach to the sea. Gulls and other birds often scoop up the hatchlings before they make it to the water. Other predators, such as large fish, await those lucky enough to make it into the sea.
Photograph by Steve Winter Animals Reptiles Leatherback Sea Turtle Leatherback
Alaska that are living large and packing on the pounds as they prepare for their winter
