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Week 03 · Birds: Built to Survive

Thursday

Behaviors that help birds survive
// Feathers, beaks, feet and the things birds do
⏱ about 15 min

Thursday: Behaviors That Help Birds Survive

Rocket and Raven sit at the sit spot. A bird sings from the top of the tree.

A moment later, a different bird sings back from the fence.

"They are talking," Rocket whispers. "What are they saying?"

Nova dims her lights. "Watch what they do next," she says. "Behavior is a clue too."

Structures and behaviors

A structure is a part a bird has. A behavior is something a bird does.

Both help a bird survive.

Behaviors are not random. Each one does a job.

When you watch a bird, write what it does, not just what it looks like.

BehaviorHow it helps the bird
singingTells other birds "this is my space" and attracts a mate
flocking, staying in a groupMany eyes spot danger faster
preening, cleaning feathers with the beakKeeps feathers in shape for flying and warmth
puffing up feathersTraps more warm air on a cold day
building a nestMakes a safe place for eggs and young
migrating, moving with the seasonsFinds food and warmer weather when seasons change
bathing in water or dustCleans feathers and skin
WHY DO THEY DO THAT?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A bird sings loudly from the top of a tree. What is one job of that song?
A bird puffs up its feathers on a cold morning. Why?
Why might birds stay in a flock?
A bird runs its beak through its feathers again and again. What is it doing?

Observation first, inference second

Remember week one. Watching a bird sing is an observation.

"It is claiming its space" is an inference. It is a good guess based on what scientists know.

In your notebook, write what you saw first. Then write what you think it means.

"Bird sang from the fence for two minutes" goes in "What I saw".

"Was it telling the other bird to leave?" goes in "What I wonder".

FROM WATCHING TO WONDERING
  • ?Think about what pecking might be for.
  • ?A bird hops under the bush, then stops and pecks.
  • ?Write "hopped and pecked under bush" in "What I saw".
  • ?Write "Is it finding seeds or insects?" in "What I wonder".
WHY THIS EXERCISEObservation comes first. The inference follows as a question.
Something a bird does is called a ____.
Cleaning feathers with the beak is called ____.
Moving with the seasons to find food is called ____.
StatementTrue or false?
Bird behaviors are random and do no job.?
Puffing up feathers helps a bird stay warm.?
A nest is a safe place for eggs and young.?
"The bird is happy" is an observation.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEEvery behavior has a job. Feelings are inferences, not observations.
What do we call cleaning feathers with the beak?
WHY THIS EXERCISEPreening keeps feathers clean and in shape for flying and warmth.
Try it
Watch one bird for three minutes from your sit spot or a window.
Count each behavior you see: hop, peck, sing, fly, preen, puff.
Write the behavior with the most tally marks in your notebook.
Safety first
Look with your eyes. Never touch a wild bird, a nest or an egg.
Never try to feed a wild bird from your hand.
Stay with your grown-up and wash your hands when you come inside.
Draw a bird doing one behavior from the table. Write the behavior and its job underneath.

Doing, not just having! Tomorrow you put structures and behaviors together into claims.

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