Learn about Birds

Directions: Bookmark this web page. Click the link (colored, underlined words) to go to a site with the question's answer.
The answer is often on that page. A few require you to find the right link to another page with the answer.
If you get a "File not found" message, use you online research skills to locate the answer.
Use the Bookmark to return to this page for the next question. printer friendly version | doc version | DAF

1. What do birds have that NO other animal has? National Aviary

2. Write three things that all birds have in common.

3. How do perching birds manage to stay in the tree even when they are asleep?

4. If you see a bird's bill, you can guess what it eats. Describe two different bills and what a bird with that bill would eat.

5. True or False Birds use wings and feathers to fly. All birds have feathers and wings. So all birds can fly. Explain

6. Watch the purple martin animation in the Pop-Up window. Assess: When do you think it has all its feathers?
Hint: It might help you to compare it with the text information.

7. What is the wing span (distance from wing tip to wing tip) of a Great Blue Heron?
Hint: to quick find a keyword like "heron" on a long page - use the Find command.
Go Edit ... Find. Enter the keywords (Great Blue Heron). Tap the return key.
You will jump down the page to the Great Blue Heron text!

Math challenge: Compare this with your "wing span".
The distance between your middle finger tips with your arms wide spread (your wingspan) is about the same as your height.
Who has a larger wing span the Great Blue Heron or you? How much is the difference?

8. How long is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?

Math challenge: Compare that with the length of your index finger. Which is longer?

9. Explore these different bird nests. Describe the one you believe is most unusual.

10. Windbreaks can be very helpful to birds. Name three ways they help.
(You do not need to read every word to find the answers - Scan the headlines)

What organisms, other than birds, benefit from windbreaks?

11. Consider the planting chart for a habitat garden.
Select one tree, one shrub, one vine and a plant that would be good for birds.
Write them here.

tree -

shrub -

vine -

plant -

12. Complete an All About Birds Quiz. Write your score.

13. Name your state's official bird. Have you ever seen that bird in the wild?

14. If you were a bird, you'd be glad you had feathers for 3 reasons. Use your research skills to name them.

15. Write the names of 3 endangered birds and 1 extinct bird.

What is the difference between a bird that is endangered and a bird that is extinct?

Harness the bird info resources All About Birds @ Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Enter the name of one of the endangered birds you listed.

What are the chances you'll see one in your community?

16. If someone called you a bird brain, you should reply, "Thanks!" Why?

17. Birds gather in groups we call
(You probably know this without looking it up.)

Bobwhite quail gather in a group called a

Why do birds gather in these groups?

List two or more reasons that people gather in groups.

18. What do we call a person who studies birds? (Use your online research skills to find the answer)

Food for thought: Write a question you have had about birds or a specific bird.

Extend your effort:

Scientists make careful observations of animal behavior. They gain important insights into cause and effect relations in natural phenomena. They hypothesize about why the animal is behaving that way. If the behavior is a problem, they may try to change the animal's behavior.

Make some observations about this bird's behavior.

Form a theory about why the bird is doing this.

In terms of its own good, would you say this is a good behavior for the bird to do or a poor behavior?

Check it out the article: What is that bird doing?

Based on what you know about this behavior, propose something you could do to stop a bird from doing it.

Watch Newton's Apple video - Bird song or Black-footed Penguin

Strange Dead Bird Mystery

Build your scientific observation skills - what do you observe in this photo of a nest?

Complete this Frayer Model to show what you know about Birds - doc format | pdf format

Explore the Bluebirds Project.

In 1903, the Pelican Island National Refuge off the coast of Florida was established. It was the first federally protected habitat.
President Theodore Roosevelt created the Refuge. He acted after learning that hunters were killing the birds.
They sold the fancy feathers to hat makers for ladies' hats.

Done already?

Enjoy this online book The Best Treat of All.	Osprey Watch Web at Pelican Island
Ask the PTO at your school to help you create a school yard habitat	Learn about eggs using one of the hunts. Then tackle the egg puzzle.
Explore Birds: Wonders of the Sky	Backyard Birds
Birds Exploration	Learn about Nests scavenger hunt
The Life of Birds	What are Wild Parrots Doing in Brooklyn?
Electronic Naturalist - K- 8 nature study with materials	Rainforest maths interactive math K to 7
Cheep, Chirp, Twitter, and Whistle	Birds basics
Birds of the Wetlands	Birds of Meadows, Fencerows and Fields
Learn Bird Songs	Migratory Bird Center
Bare midriff - incubating eggs	Cold Duck on Ice

Locate your State's Bird checklist. Start looking and listening for birds. Consider making a bird list for your community.

Screech Owl Activity based on Screech Owl at Midnight Hollow by C Drew Lamm

Variation - grouping things

Do this Dichotomous Key activity for two of the species.
Make a Dichotomous Key for a species of bird. Compare it with another animal that flies.

"Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there
except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke

All trademarks, copyright and logos belong to their respective owners.
Released to public domain for non profit use in honor of Rachel Carson

2001 Cindy O'Hora FAQ Revised 6/2009, Posted 7/2002, Updated 2/2012

I have not linked this info to avoid being spammed.

Save a tree - use a Digital Answer Sheet: Highlight the text of the questions on this web page, copy them - Edit .. Copy. Open a text document or word processing document. Paste the questions into the blank document. Answer the questions in the word processing document in a contrasting color ( not yellow) or font (avoid fancy fonts like: , Symbol, or . Save frequently as you work. I do not like losing my work. You will not like it either. Put your name and the date in a header. Bad things happen. Retain a copy of your work on your computer. Submit your assignment via a class electronic drop box or email attachment.

Proof your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work. Make Your Own Printed answer sheet

Tech Tip: Working in a group or in two different places like the library & home? You do not have to be physically together to work together.
Watch Google Docs video TAI - How could you use free, Google Docs to do a project? How would this facilitate group projects?