Happy Wednesday!
Did you know sea otter bones turn purple, tree frog bones turn green, and flamingoes turn pink because of what they eat?
Here’s what we’ve got this week:
TRIVIA
Legs not meant for walking? 🦵
Which of these has legs but can't walk?
ANIMAL FOCUS
Condors 🦅
By special request (shoutout to Tiernan!), this week we’re learning about condors!
An Andean condor’s wingspan can stretch up to 10 feet, longer than most cars! Because they’re so big, they need a running start or a perch to launch into flight. 🚗
Condors can fly without flapping their wings! They glide on rising air currents and mountain winds. They can travel over 100 miles without flapping, and up to 250 miles a day! 🪁
Their bald heads change colors depending on their mood! They can turn pink, red, or orange to communicate, especially during feeding time. 🟠
Condors can live up to 60 years! They raise only one chick every two years and spend a lot of time teaching it how to survive. 🐣
They’re silent giants! Condors can’t sing or squawk because they don’t have the organ most birds use for calls. They mostly stay quiet, but sometimes hiss or grunt. 🔇
Want more? Visit our website for more facts and video!
EVER WONDER?
Why do leaves change color? 🍁
Leaves change color in the fall because the days get shorter and the air gets cooler.
Why are leaves green? 🌿
Leaves look green in spring and summer because they’re full of chlorophyll, the pigment plants use to make food from sunlight. Since chlorophyll is green, the leaves look green.
What changes in the fall? 🍂
When there’s less sunlight and cooler temperatures:
Chlorophyll breaks down, and the tree stops making more of it.
As the green color fades, other hidden colors that were already in the leaf start to show.
Where do the colors come from? 🎨
Carotenoids make the yellows and oranges. (These are the same pigments in carrots and pumpkins!)
Anthocyanins make the reds and purples.
Tannins make the leaf brown.
Why do leaves fall off? 🍁
Trees drop leaves to save water and energy during winter. A special layer of cells forms at the base of the leaf stem, blocking water and nutrients from going to the leaf. That makes the leaf dry up and fall.
Fun fact: the word “fall” (for autumn) comes from the 1500s phrase “fall of the leaf.”
BRAIN TRIVIA
Logic Puzzle: Four animals are in a talent show. Each one has a different snack and talent.
Animals: Fox, Rabbit, Owl, Bear
Snacks: Apples, Acorns, Honey, Carrots
Talents: Magic tricks, Drumming, Storytelling, Acrobatics
Figure out which animal goes with which snack and which talent.
Clues:
The fox doesn’t eat apples and isn’t the drummer.
The owl is the storyteller and doesn’t eat acorns.
The bear doesn’t eat honey.
The rabbit loves carrots.
The acrobat eats acorns.
The honey-eater isn’t the fox.
The rabbit performs magic tricks.
Sarah Darnell | British Wildlife Photography Awards 2026
Thanks for reading! See you next time!
- Steve
P.S. Have an animal or science question you want us to feature? Just hit ‘Reply’ and tell us!