Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2023, issue 99 i Eco Kids Planet Magazine

I’m massive and regal ’cos I’m a bald eagle – tee-hee! (Er, I’m not bald, BTW…) Bald eagles like me come from and live only in North America. We were chosen by the Founding Fathers to be the symbol of the United States – perhaps because of our fierce beauty and proud independence… Basically, we’re awesome. And most importantly, we’re the Biggest Nest Builders. EVER. We build our eyries – that’s a fancy word for nest – to last. That’s because we return to them year after year. Each year, we add another few twigs, branches and whatever we can get our beaks on. We gather all kinds of lovely soft moss and grasses for the inside before my partner, Betty, lays the eggs. This annual expansion means we build…

Charlie: I’m on the island of Borneo, looking for an orangutan. I’ve heard they’re great at making things. But this place is really wet – a tropical rainforest! Orangutan: Do you want a rainhat? Charlie: Wow, an orangutan. That’s a great one you’re wearing. Orangutan: The leaves here are perfect for making rainhats and umbrellas. I’ll make you one, too. Charlie: Thanks – I’ll pay you in bananas. Are they all you make? Orangutan: Oh, I make much bigger and better things than that, human boy. I’m a builder. Charlie: What do you build? Orangutan: I’ll tell you for another banana. Charlie: Here you go. Orangutan: Thanks. Yum yum. Here, you can have the peel back. I build… Charlie: Yes? Orangutan: I build… Wait for it… Charlie: Yes? Orangutan: Nests!…

Trees and shrubs seem to glisten with silken webs at this time of year. This pretty project was inspired by webs filled with dew. It is a great way to use up leftover scraps of material, spare beads and trimmings. Choose bits and pieces in complementary colours and weave them together to make a wonderful web. What you need: Three straight-ish thin twigs Scraps of material, ribbon, lace, yarn and so on in wintry colours What to do: 1. Snap the twigs to equal lengths of approximately 20cm each. Ask an adult to help if they are tough. 2. Arrange the twigs in a star shape. Wind some yarn tightly around the centre to hold the twigs in place. 3. Use some yarn or cord to weave the centre of…

DRAWING COMPETITION Were you surprised to find out what amazing building skills some animals have? We were! For this month’s competition, we’re asking you to send us a drawing of your favourite animal builder. What do they look like? What do they build? What materials do they use to construct their homes or nests? Send us your creations before 10th February 2023, and we’ll publish our favourites in the March 2023 issue of Eco Kids Planet. Plus… THREE lucky artists will win this exciting kaleidoscope from Build Your Own Kits. 3 TO WIN! Build Your Own Kaleidoscope Watch vibrant colours and patterns change before your eyes with Build Your Own’s new eco-friendly, STEM-inspired kaleidoscope! A planet-friendly take on a traditional kaleidoscope, this multi-functional kit provides hours of entertainment. Easy to assemble…

Could you build your own home? Birds do. You must have seen them out looking for twigs, leaves and mud clumps to build their nests with. It doesn’t look too hard a job, does it? But what if you had to carry several thousand pieces of stone, some almost as big as your head, in your mouth, for up to 23 metres? And in fast-flowing water? Some fish build nests, too – and every spring in North America, male bluehead chubs build dome-shaped mounds of gravel this way. These nests are for mating in. They attract females who think they’re a safe place to release and hide eggs. Over 20 species of colourful minnows agree – they borrow the nests for the same thing! HEAVY LIFTING Goliath frogs – the…

The digger from Down Under This critically endangered cutie must be one of the best builders in all of Australia! Cosy wombats With its powerful, muscular legs and long, strong claws, the northern hairy-nosed wombat is perfectly adapted for burrow building. Wombat burrows can be HUGE, with multiple entrances and over 90 metres of tunnels (that’s about the same length as a football field!). And whether the air above is scorching hot or freezing cold, these burrows stay at a perfectly comfortable temperature. It’s no wonder that wombats spend most of their time in their underground palaces, popping to the surface for just a few hours a night to snack on grass. Did You Know? Other animals use wombat burrows for shelter, too, including wallabies, snakes and echidnas. The Wombat…

WINNING COMEDY PHOTOS! Some people can’t even remember last night. That’s when my annoying little brother Rusty promised he’d take out the recycling bins this morning. Did he? No, he slept in, so I had to. “I forgot,” he said. Pah! But I bet your memories stretch all the way back to last month when I reported on the world’s funniest and most popular photography competition, The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Now I can show you the winners! The overall winner – out of 5,000 entries – is Jennifer Hadley’s photo ‘Not So Cat-Like Reflexes’. Taken in the Serengeti, Tanzania, it shows a lion cub trying to come down from a tree, possibly for the first time. He went for it but lost his grip. Don’t worry, the tree trunk…

Rhona: It’s a good thing we got sprayed with termite scent, Rusty. Rusty: Yes, these termites don’t suspect a thing! Rhona: There are so many shafts and tunnels to explore. Rusty: I like it here. The air is as cool as me! Rhona: Remember that chimney and ventilation shaft we found at the top? Those and the tunnels seem to control the climate. Rusty: So, the workers know what they’re doing when they build them? Rhona: They’re smarter than they look – and did you know they’re all blind? Rusty: Maybe we don’t need these itchy costumes, then. Rhona: Better not take any risks. We’re back near the nest at the bottom now, where they all live. Rusty: Their hidden underground city! Rhona: Yes, where we found their fungus gardens. They…

Congratulations to our winners! Runners-Up To read more of our readers’ poems, go to www.ecokidsplanet.co.uk/nature-power-poem-competition…