Fun and Learning

Fun and learning Corner

There are so many things to discover

Read about sea turtles, sand tiger sharks, wind energy and more at our virtual bookshelf.
Get to know a new animal every month with photos, videos and cool facts. 
You can help save animals in the wild by doing simple things in your own home.

Read a book from our virtual bookshelf!

You can help Save ANimals

simple actions can help in a big way

What action can I do?

This month you can help animals by not throwing food out of your car window onto the roadside.  

Why should I help?

Did you know that some birds like owls hunt for rodents and other small animals and are often hit by cars while they are hunting on the roadside? Small rodents will eat any food they find on roadsiedes, such as apple cores or other litter. These rodents can then attract owls and other birds to the roadside. These birds, being too close to fast moving traffic, can be hit by cars.   

how can I help?

• Keep litter, food included, inside the car! This is an easy way to preserve owl populations! 
   

The Ocean is In Our Hands!

The NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is proud to have joined a collection of 19 aquariums across the country to launch the In Our Hands campaign.
The campaign's initiative is for everyone to reduce single-use plastic and choose alternatives instead.
We're walking the walk too - replacing plastic straws with paper straws in our snack bars and adding water bottle refilling stations next to our water fountains.

The future of the ocean and lakes and rivers is In Our Hands!
You can help and do your part!
To learn more, visit OURHANDS.org

Meet Our Animal of the Month: Eastern SCreech Owl

rEd Phase and Grey Phase
 

• Eastern screech owls are the smallest resident owls in North Carolina. They are widespread and common throughout Eastern North America. An adult screech owl is about 8.5 inches in length and wingspan is about 21 inches.
   
• They rely on healthy forests where they nest in holes in trees such as old woodpecker holes and natural tree cavities. They roost during the day and hunt mostly at night but they often hunt at dusk and sometimes during the day.
   
• The Eastern screech owl has a trilling call. They also make whinning noises, clucks and barks. This owl can be seen in two different colors: a red-phase and a grey-phase. They don't change colors once they reach adulthood.  
   
• They feed on large insects and rodents and are often hit by cars while hunting on roadsides. The screech owls in our care were likely injured by cars and can no longer survive in the wild. They were brought to the Aquarium from Possomwood Acres Wildlife Scanctuary in Hubert, NC.