Happy #polarbearday! I wanted to say thank you to my favorite enrichment testing polar bear, Hudson. Hudson is a special bear who happily tests our new enrichment devices. But what makes him special is when he is able to break and shred our things he never eats any of the unsafe small bits. This is not true with our other bears so he is our first step in testing new enrichment to make sure items are safe for all his friends. Scroll to see some of his “help”! #producttesting #internationalpolarbearday #zooenrichment #lovemycoworkers . . . . . . . #enrichment #enrichmentworkshop #mydayjob #learningmoments #notafailure #zoolife #polarbear #happyhealthylife #zoo #nature #conservation #artforanimals #artistoninstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BuZObxdFMFl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13m16hvdaqv5t

Our timed feeder made the evening news! This hidden enrichment feeder unpredictably delivers tasty snacks to the gorillas. This helps them keep active and engaged with their environment while searching for a fallen treat. And if you don’t care for popcorn sometimes it rains Cheerios. #enrichment #funwithfood #westernlowlandgorilla #lovemydayjob . . . . . . #zooenrichment #zoo #happyhealthylife #9to5 #mydayjob #zoolife #gorilla #conservation #wildlifeconservation #nature #wildlife #timedfeeder #fabricator #artistsoninstagram #enrichmentworkshop https://www.instagram.com/p/BuUvm0ZlGQm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=uv2us7olk5s9

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) Thanks #wildthings19 for a wonderful conference filled with inspiring conservation stories! This little fluff found a new home with a great lady Dawn Sasek. Dawn and her OFHS Ecology Club students told me all about the amazing work they are doing to help the bobolink and their preferred habitat. Shout out to her enthusiastic students Yosra, Josh, Michelle, Nick, and Augustin! #bobolink #indicatorspecies #prarie #kidsthatcare #nextgenerationgonnadogreatthings . . . . . . . #migratorybirds #conservation #citizenscience #ecology #ecologyclub #illinoisprarie #habitatrestoration #birdnerd #needlefelting #felt #woolart #natureart #artoutside #naturenut #mahteeka #joeandsarahart https://www.instagram.com/p/BuRbo2ilxsV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ihpxni8otiip

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) This gentleman’s fluff isn’t just cute it’s super functional. His super soft feathers keep him warm in the winter and also allow him to fly in super stealth mode to hunt. #owlbewarmthiswinter #stealthmode #nightbird . . . . #owl #owlsofinstagram #greathornedowl #hunter #predator #needlefelting #felt #wool #art #artistoninstagram #craft #sculptor #fiberart #mahteeka #joeandsarahart #oneofakind #handmade #birds #birdsofinstagram #birdwatching #nature #naturephotography #artoutside #animalart https://www.instagram.com/p/BqLjydehC66/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ul3d3pert6eu

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) Saw this guy in the Galápagos Islands in a lava tube because there where no barns. #galapagosislands #bestvacationever #travelingartist . . . . #barnowl #owl #bird #birdsofinstagram #animalart #nature #naturephotography #artoutside #felt #needlefelting #wool #woolart #fiberartist #sculpture #softsculpture #ooak #handmade #craft #mahteeka #joeandsarahart #cute #round #fuzzy https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp8TIPmBedh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kx3uw64lu31v

Barred Owl (Strix varia) Also known as Swamp Owl, Striped Owl, Hoot Owl, Eight Hooter, Rain Owl, and my favorite Hooting Cat of the North. #whocooksforyouall #barredowl #catsofinstagram . . . . . #owlsofinstagram #owl #birdsofinstagram #birdwatching #bird #nature #felting #feltingwool #needlefelting #wool #fiberart #ooak #handmade #crafting #animalart #birdart #artistsoninstagram #joeandsarahart #mahteeka https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp21GnyBOv5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nb37czny75ok

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) Even though you are abundant in North America, you are definitely not common to me 😘 #dontlistentothem #liveyourbestlife . . . . . #warblersofinstagram #commonyellowthroat #warbler #migration #birdwatching #bird #animals #nature #animalart #artistsoninstagram #felting #wool #needlefelting #fiber #fiberart #sculpture #ooak #handmade #craft #art #outside #photography #naturephotography #mahteeka #joeandsarahart #birdnerd #artoutside #travelingartist https://www.instagram.com/p/BomLg89FxVa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10eau8rzjxuev

Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) Thank you Mr. Butterbutt for being so easy to spy with that yellow rump-a-dump! #warblersofinstagram #butterbutt #migration . . . . #yellowrumpedwarbler #birdsofinstagram #birdwatching #birder #bird #artistoninstagram #ooak #handmade #needlefelting #felt #sculpture #craft #wool #fiberart #mahteeka #joeandsarahart #outdoors #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #hikingadventures #animalart https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn9tuomhags/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=b9yn9758xkq2

Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway) Saw this thick bird in Texas scrubland and at the beach in Costa Rica. Since this opportunistic scavenger is as comfortable on the ground as it is in the sky he needed some legs and a dead thing 💀 #caracara #deadthings #walk #legs . . . . . #felt #craft #handmade #sculpture #animalart #birdart #birdsofinstagram #ooak #needlefelting #scavenger #birdofprey #travelingartist #artistoninstagram #natureart #artoutside #naturephotography #nature #birder #bird #birdwatching #mahteeka #joeandsarahart

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) We caught a rare glimpse of this navigationally challenged bird at Indiana Dunes Birding Fest this past May. Don’t know where he was flying from or heading to but his timing at the fest was greatly appreciated by the flock of birders standing in the rain hoping to add him to their life list. #indianadunesbirdingfestival #whitetailedkite #lifelist #felting . . . . . .#birdwatching #birdart #nature #migration #naturephotography #animalart #needlefelting #ooak #handmade #craft #wool #fiber #artistoninstagram #joeandsarahart #mahteeka #birder #birdsofinstagram #fest #birdfest #sculpture #travelingartist #hiking #outdoors #conservation #artoutside #art

Cheers to another great ComicCon!!! Back home with the cats exhausted and yet incredibly inspired. Thank you everyone for sharing a story, making me smile and supporting our craft. Let’s make more art!!!! #sdcc2018 #husbandandwifetagteamcombo #joeandsarahart #artwithheart #mahteeka

We are ready for #sdcc2018 are you? #newbook #newartprint #ooakbirds #orininalart #husbandandwifetagteamcombo (at San Diego Comic-Con International)

Story Time... A few years back we made a log ramp for an elderly gent, Gungadin the Burmese Python. He was a wonderful charismatic 12ft long snake who only had the use of one eye. He lived a wonderfully long life and I think of him every time I pass his empty habitat. When he passed we saved his log ramp because we never throw anything out. Fast forward to today. We took Gungadin’s old ramp turned it up on end, added a bit more flare, and a new set of wheels. It is now a new climbing wall for the junior python Atticus to grow up on. He can take his log wall, nicknamed Gungadin, on the road for meet n greets with visitors. Reuse, Reduce, Remember💚🐍💚 #bermesepython #rainbowbridge #payitforward #lovemydayjob #storytime #zoolife #animalenrichment #reptileenrichment #zooenrichment

Blue-gray Tanager ( Thraupis episcopus) This well traveled fuzz ball was started in Costa Rica, finished in Chicago, and will be visiting San Diego shortly. #tanager #sdcc #costarica #osapeninsula #travelingartist . . . . #artoutside #nature #birds #artistoninstagram #sdcc2018 #joeandsarahart #mahteeka #felting #feltwool #craft #ooak #handmade #handcrafted #softsculpture #sculpture #birdart #birdwatching #birder

Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) This curiously named bird doesn’t actually spend much time in Nashville, Tennessee. He just passes through on his way to somewhere else. #warbler #nashville #migration #birdwatching #felt . . . . . #birdsofinstagram #birb #warblersofinstagram #birding #naturephotography #naturelovers #outside #artoutside #art #artistoninstagram #needlefelting #sculpture #craft #ooak #handmade #animalart #conservation

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) You can find this striking bird at Indiana Dunes State Park but I heard a rumor that this fuzzy fellow might be migrating to San Deigo Comic Con... #woodpecker #indianadunesstatepark #sdcc2018 #joeandsarahart . . . . . .#felt #needlefelting #woolart #softsculpture #craft #ooak #handmade #artistoninstagram #mahteeka #bird #birdsofinstagram #redheadedwoodpecker #birdwatching #birdwatcher #nature #naturelovers #artoutside #travelingartist #naturephotography #animalart

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) These oddly accurately named birds are both brown and creepers. They in fact are designed with a curved beak and long tail that aids them in their never ending creep, hopping both feet at once up tree trunks-never down. (Their name also makes me giggle 💩) #browncreeper #💩 #creepinlikeacreeper #birb #birdnerd . . . . . #birdwatching #birdsofinstagram #naturephotography #birds #felting #needlefelting #fiberart #fiberartist #artistsoninstagram #mahteeka #joeandsarahart #birdfacts #conservation #ecology #artoutside #travelingartist