In the Columbia Mountains lies Mount Revelstoke National Park, home to one of the world’s only Inland Temperate Rainforests (the other two are located in southern Siberia and Russia’s far east). This unique ecosystem is home to hundreds of species, and is one of the most productive and biodiverse regions in Canada. In my latest…
Author: Taylor Holmes
Taxidermy Tales: John Edmonstone
John Edmonstone was a taxidermist and freed-slave who taught and enabled famed naturalist Charles Darwin. Edmonstone lived a fascinating life, long before meeting Darwin, and contributed to our understanding of the natural world, but it’s also a reminder of the impacts of nineteenth century colonialism and the historical erasure of people of colour. Here’s what’s…
Backyard Friends: The Raccoon
The Backyard Friends is an ongoing YouTube and blog series about animal pals that you might find in your backyard. No matter where we are, we are a part of the nature, not apart from it. Printable Colouring Sheet! To download: Right click on the image. Click “Save image as…” and save in the desired…
Exploring Iceland
Exploring Iceland | History, Nature & Magic! Exploring Iceland is a video project showcasing some of Iceland’s famous and noteworthy sights, delving into history, folklore, science, witchcraft, and more! Learn about more than a thousand years of human history on this remote North Atlantic island, as well as the unique natural history of the land…
Backyard Friends: The Ptarmigan
General Overview Ptarmigans are a genus of birds related to grouse, chickens, turkeys and pheasants (10). There are three species of ptarmigan, each with several subspecies: the willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), the rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) and the white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura). The scientific name Lagopus comes from Greek and means rabbit footed (5). This…
Bat Month 2023: Little Brown Bat Colouring Sheet
Happy Bat Month! This Bat Month the focus has been on a common North American species, and personal favourite, the little brown bat (Scientific name: Myotis lucifugus). This is the black and white version of an upcoming YouTube thumbnail, and I thought some people might enjoy having a version they can print off and colour….
RedList Friends: North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
Here are seven facts about the North Atlantic Right Whale! Its scientific name is Eubalaena glacialis, which means “True Whale of the ice.” E. glacialis typically weighs between 55 thousand to 95 thousand kilograms (or about 120 thousand to 210 thousand pounds), and can measure up to 17 meters or 55 feet in length. E….