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E.T. A LOCAL WAY OF LEARNING
Title: BIRD NEST HUNT
Author: Eulalie R. Rivera Elementary School
Environmental Education Team
Grade Level: 5-8
Concepts: Disciplines:
2. Ecosystem 1. Science
3. Carrying Capacity 2. Mathematics
Objective:
Students will correctly identify nests as observed in a given upland area, using
the information provided, and record their observations as called for in the
suggested activities.
Rationale:
From birds' nests we can learn a lot about their inhabitants. We can learn
about bird habits, nesting territories, materials used in nests and about eggs
and mating habits. A shore and marsh bird nest hunt would need to record a
different set of data.
Materials Needed:
Activity sheets, bird key, ruler in inches and centimeters, compass, hypsometer
or clinometer.
Directions/Activity:
Divide the class into teams of four. Assign students to roles of leader,
recorder, ornithologist (in charge of books or keys) and research scientist
(measures the nests). Have the entire class follow a particular trail to help
keep control over the activity. Each team is then responsible for locating as
many nests as possible.
The teams do not have to stay close to each other but should be in the same
general area. As they locate nests they should do the appropriate exercises.
Read through the data sheet and explain the use of instruments and keys before
you start the exercise.
The second part of exercise #4 is to be done as an entire class. Measurements
from all the groups should be put on the charts. Answer the questions as a
class.
E.T.
BIRD NEST HUNT
Team Members: Leader
Recorder
Ornithologist
Research Scientist
It's easiest to study nests when the leaves are off the trees. It's surprising
to see the number of nests which hide in the foliage. We will not collect any
nests.
Activity #1
Take a survey of where nests are found. Especially of interest here is finding
out if birds have their nests on a particular side of a tree.
Stand next to the trunk of the tree, facing the nest. Use a compass to find out
which direction the nest is in. Point the base of the compass towards the nest.
Line up the red end of the floating arrow with the red cross-hatched arrow. Read
the direction the nest is in on the compass where it says 'read bearing here'.
Write down the direction on a data sheet. For example:
DATA SHEET FOR NEST SURVEY
No. N NE E SE S SW W NW
1 X
2 X
3 X
4 X
E.T.
BIRD NEST HUNT
Display your data in a picture graph, including the wind direction.
For example:
Activity #2 (to be done at the same time as Activity #1)
For each nest seen in Activity #1, determine the height from the ground. Use a
hypsometer or a clinometer to determine the height. Your leader will explain
how to use the instruments.
Activity #3
1. Nests come in all shapes and sizes. The nest may lie flat on the ground or
it may be wedged between two branches or may hang like a pendulum from a
branch.
Classify each nest you find as one of the following:
/zbr
-7
NE~ oN
&COLI- P
Ecsr Im
HEs-r
NESr cu PPE
SjA OMEV
&1, Pi ci L
E.T.
BIRD NEST HUNT
Put a check for each nest found
A. Nest on ground
B. Nest in fork
C. Hanging nest
D. Cupped nest
2. What might be the advantage of one type of nest over another? Remember
mongooses are egg eaters but can't climb trees.
3. Name three reasons why you can't find more nests.
A.
B.
E .T.
BIRD NEST HUNT
Activity #4
1. Find one or two nests which you can observe carefully without harming it.
Do the following measurements and answer the questions.
a = inches b = millimeters
la lb 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b
Yours Others
Depth of Cup
Outside Diameter
Inside Diameter
Circumference
Other
2. Add to your chart the measurements from other groups.
3. What was the difference in outside diameter from the largest nest to the
smallest?
4. What was the difference in inside diameter from the largest nest to the
smallest?
5. Why do you think there was a difference in size?
6. Why wasn't there a greater difference?
7. If you have a key to bird nests try to identify your nest.
E.T.
BIRD NEST HUNT
Activity #5
1. Take a close look at the nest you found in Activity #4. What was the nest
made of?
2. Collect the same materials from the area. Make separate piles for each
different material.
3. Now for the challenge, use those materials to try to build your own nest.
If you are successful, you may take that nest home.
4. Compare your list of materials with other groups. Do all the bird nests
contain the same type material?
5. How do they differ?
6. Were the materials found on the outside of the nest the same as those found
on the inside?
7. What is the main reason birds build nests?
8. Name
young.
four things a bird would need to successfully lay eggs and raise its
A.
B.
C.
D.
Reference:
Birds of the Virgin Islands
Dea Murray, 1969
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