Birds of a Feather

Birds are all around us, but do we really see or value them? Find out about the original Bird Land by doing these activities.

CONNECT:

• Explore the evolution and diversity by clicking on this wall of birds: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/features/wallofbirds/
• Watch birds migrate across the hemisphere: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/mesmerizing-migration-watch-118-bird-species-migrate-across-a-map-of-the-western-hemisphere/
• View a Quicktime time-lapse movie of a hatching chick: http://www.msichicago.org/experiment/videos/the-hatchery/
• Each bird has a distinctive sound; hear the sounds of Florida’s birds at http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/birds/florida-bird-sounds/; compare them to New York birds: http://www.math.stonybrook.edu/~tony/birds/
• Get an eggs-tra special look at birds through their eggs: http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/exhibits/online/eggs/vexhome/egghome.htm
• What makes a bird of prey? Find out at http://idahoptv.org/sciencetrek/topics/birds_of_prey/index.cfm

CREATE:

• Discover why birds have different bills, and see if you can match each bird to its favorite food: http://projectbeak.org/adaptations/beaks_test.htm
• How much do you know about the feathered visitors to your backyard? Put your bird brain to work on this quiz: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/backyard-birds-quiz/
• Try these fun activities from Audubon about birds: http://web4.audubon.org/educate/kids/
• Make your own craft-y birds following the directions at http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/birds.html
• Birds come in a range of sizes: from 3 inches to six feet; browse them at http://www.whatbird.com/browse/attribute/birds_na_147/51/Size/

CARE:

• Considering owning a pet bird? Here’s a guide to parrots and other exotic pet birds: http://www.birdsnways.com/
• Feed the birds by creating a garden for them: http://feederwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/BirdNote13-Creating-a-Garden-2012-03-27-RGB.pdf
• Bird watching is not only a fun activity, but it can also be a service. See how you and other kids can make a difference in the science field at http://gbbc.birdcount.org
• Why do birds hit windows – and how can you help prevent that happening? Find out at http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/bird_safe_windows.html

CAREERS:

There are many careers “for the birds”: ornithologist, naturalist, researcher, veterinarian, illustrator, writer, photographer, trainer, entertainer, sales person, manufacturer and many more. Read stories of bird lovers with careers at http://betterwords.typepad.com/birdvice/2009/01/careers-in-birds.html

Here are some other leads:

http://ebird.org/content/ybn/resources/careers/

http://www.environmentalscience.org/career/ornithologist