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Week 03 · Birds: Built to Survive

Explorer Day

Explorer Day: Count Birds by Behavior
// Feathers, beaks, feet and the things birds do
⏱ about 15 min

Explorer Day: Count Birds by Behavior

The family sits in a row at the sit spot. Everyone holds a notebook open to a tally sheet.

Rocket spots the first bird. "Hopping! That is one for hopping!"

"Shh," whispers Raven, making a mark. "Now it is pecking. Two behaviors, one bird."

Nova hovers above, counting silently. By the end, the hopping row has the most marks.

  1. A structure is a body part. A function is its job.
  2. Feathers fly, warm, shed water and hide. Beak shape matches food.
  3. Feet grip, paddle, wade or grab. Eye position helps a bird see danger or judge distance.
  4. Behaviors like singing, flocking, preening and migrating help birds survive.
  5. Every bird has a common name and a scientific name.
◇ A BIRD COUNT BY BEHAVIOR
Go to your sit spot with your grown-up and your tally sheet.
Write the date, weather and place at the top.
Set a timer for fifteen minutes. Sit still and quiet.
Each time a bird does a behavior, make one tally mark in that row.
A bird that hops and then pecks gets a mark in both rows.
When the timer rings, count each row. Circle the behavior with the most marks.
Look at your field guide. Did you see any bird that might be on the list?
Safety first
Look with your eyes. Never touch a wild bird, a nest, an egg or a feather.
Never try to feed a wild bird from your hand.
Stay with your grown-up the whole time. Wash your hands when you come inside.
For a grown-up
Keep your own tally so you can compare counts afterwards.
If no birds come, count five more minutes or try a window later.
Ask: why do you think the top behavior was the most common right now?
COUNT CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A bird lands, hops twice, then pecks the ground. How many rows get a mark?
A bird sits still on a wire for a long time. Which row?
You think a bird was looking for its mate. Where does that go in your notebook?
Which behavior row had the most marks in Rocket and Raven's count?
WHY THIS EXERCISEIn the story, the hopping row ended up with the most marks.

A real bird count! Next week you look at insects, and the flowers that depend on them.

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