Passerines
More than half of all bird species belong to the order Passeriformes, and are sometimes (misleadingly) known as perching birds or songbirds. General bird information is included in this station, and a few non-passerine specimens (such as a goose feather and an ostrich egg) are available for diversity comparison.
Feathers and the mechanics of flight can be an interesting topic for this station, as well as the difference between bird eggs and eggs of other types of animals. All bird parts from this station can be handled by students, as long as they are careful. Binoculars are also included. Move your students out of the building to do some observation if you have time, but if not, you can certainly carry your discussions and observations over onto the hike.
Feathers and the mechanics of flight can be an interesting topic for this station, as well as the difference between bird eggs and eggs of other types of animals. All bird parts from this station can be handled by students, as long as they are careful. Binoculars are also included. Move your students out of the building to do some observation if you have time, but if not, you can certainly carry your discussions and observations over onto the hike.
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What makes a bird a bird?
Beaks - all birds have beaks, but so do octopus and squid. Birds have no teeth so their gizzard grinds up food into pulp with the help of stones the bird has swallowed. What do birds use their beaks for? Do all birds use their beaks the same way? Wings - all birds have wings, but so do insects and bats. Wings are good for flying, but they can also have other uses. Brainstorm some other uses for wings. Look at some of the examples of wings. Examine their shapes and the arrangement of the feathers. Can you draw some conclusions about your observations and how they relate to habitat, adaptation, and niche? Flight - not all birds fly, other animals do fly. Most of a bird's energy is used in take-off. Flight takes a lot of energy and birds have a high metabolic rate, so they need to eat a lot to keep the energy flowing. The phrase "eat like a bird" implies not eating much, but birds eat great quantities every day. Think of some birds that don’t fly. Think of some non-bird animals that fly. |
Warm blooded - all birds are warm blooded, but so are mammals. Birds must keep their internal body temperature consistent. Birds are covered with an insulating layer of feathers, and they also eat frequently. Cold blooded animals do not neat to eat as frequently, and they do not have insulation. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Hollow Bones - not all birds have hollow bones, but no other animals have hollow bones. Why do some birds have hollow bones? Why do some birds not have hollow bones? Do you think hollow bones would be easier to break? Is it worth it? Eggs - birds lay hard-shelled eggs. Other animals have soft shelled or leathery eggs. Why would a bird need a hard shell on her eggs? Why wouldn’t a leathery or jelly-like egg work? Why do those types of eggs work for other animals? Do you think hard-shelled eggs are harder to make and care for? Why or why not? Feathers - all birds have feathers. No other animal has feathers. Unlike fur that can be ruffled and not damaged, feathers can be permanently damaged. Wing feathers are used for flight power and steering, body feathers are for camouflage or display, down feathers are next to the skin and trap air for insulation (like underfur), tail feathers are used for steering, balance, and display. |
