Bird Homes and Habits
Field Introduction
Overview: Students compare birds and humans and are introduced to the concept of habitat and how that relates to birds on the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.

Time: 30 minutes

Location: Outdoors

Learner Outcomes:

  1. Students will be able to demonstrate the four similarities and differences between birds humans.
  2. Students will be able to list the habitat requirements of a duck and a crane.

Vocabulary:

  1. Habitat
  2. needs
  3. birds
  4. humans

Materials

  1. Photo of mallard duck, duck weed plant sample, insect, pond, nest cover, migrating ducks
  2. Picture of human and bird

Preparation
In an open space, set up the ropes in the following configuration.

Birds-R-Us adapted from an activity by Kathy Armstrong
Food, Water, Shelter, Space Adapted from:
Oh Deer! Project WILD

Welcome to Monte Vista NWR

Explain. . .
Welcome to the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. You have been learning all about BIRDS in your classroom, and today we are outside to learn more about BIRDS and where they live.
In order for us to learn as much as we can and have fun at the same time, it is important for all of us to be on our best field trip behavior. Outline your own ground-rules for the day.

Birds-R-Us?

Ask. . .
Who can tell me the name of this animal? (Show BIRD picture, ask the same question and show the HUMAN picture.)

Explain. . .
These two animals look very different, but you will be surprised to find they are very similar. I have two circles set up. I am going to assign one for the HUMANS (put picture of the human in middle of one of the circles). The other circle is going to be BIRDS. I will read a statement. I want each of you to answer BIRDS, HUMANS, or BOTH by moving to the right place in the circles. Where the two circles overlap is the BOTH area.

Do. . .
Read each of the following statements and ask students to move to the correct anwser.

  1. I have warm-blood- BOTH
  2. I have feathers--BIRDS
  3. I communicate primarily through sound.--BOTH
  4. I have hollow bones.--BIRDS
  5. As a group we have a varied diet- I eat meat, seeds and plants--BOTH
  6. I have a coat of fur to keep me warm_ HUMANS
  7. I am capable of learning--BOTH
  8. I have a very large brain compared to my head.--HUMANS
  9. I can sing beautiful songs. --BOTH
  10. I have a thumb to help me use tools--HUMANS
  11. I see in color. --BOTH
  12. I have a very poor sense of smell. --BOTH, although humans have a better sense of smell than birds.
  13. I lay eggs- BIRDS

Discuss. . .
With each characteristic, elaborate on each answer and have all students move to the correct area.

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