Late Elementary  

Students will learn to recognize some of the amazing adaptation that birds display and will apply their knowledge when creating their own imaginary bird.

Method
After learning about some of the adaptations displayed in the bird world, students will brainstorm a bird of their very own and decide what it eats and what sort of adaptations it would need to survive in the wild.

Materials
Pencil, paper, crayons/markers (optional), photographs or reference pictures of birds with unique adaptations (optional)

Activity
Have the students make their own fantasy bird! First, think of what the bird would like to eat. Mice? Fish? Coconuts? Styrofoam peanuts? Shoes? Anything at all! Then decide what sort of beak and feet would be appropriate to let the bird catch and eat its food. Does it need long legs or strong claws? Maybe a bill shaped like a spoon? Then decide where the bird would need to live to find its food. Would the bird need any special camouflage to survive in its habitat? Spots, stripes, polka-dots? Bright colors or dull colors? Can your bird defend itself or its babies? Think of anything else that would make your bird special!

Example:
Toenail-clipper Bird This bird specializes in eating human toenails. In order to “catch” its food, it has a special beak shaped like a pair of toenail clippers. This lets the toenail clipper bird trim the toenails of people. Because its food is found attached to human feet, the toenail clipper bird is small and lives on the ground in areas where humans are plentiful. A few toenail clipper birds live in cities, but due to the number of closed-toed business shoes seen there, they have a difficult time finding a meal. In the winter, these city birds must migrate to warmer climates where people wear open shoes. Most toenail clipper birds prefer to live at the beach all year long, where many people wear sandals. They are usually camouflaged to blend in with their surroundings, in order to sneak up on people and trim their toenails without being noticed.

Extensions

1. Have students draw their birds to incorporate an art lesson.

2. Have students decide if their bird is an endangered species. Why or why not? If it is endangered, what is causing its decline and what impact would this have on the environment? If not endangered, what allows their bird to thrive, and what would happen if there were too many of these birds?

Background
Talk about the importance of adaptations in birds. Discuss the special adaptations that allow birds to find food and survive in their environments.

Parrot:

Strong, curved beak to crack nuts and seeds, also to help with climbing

Dextrous “zygodactyl” feet allow parrots to hold food, grip/climb among branches

Bright colors are actually camouflage among the foliage of the rainforest

Loud voice to communicate with flock among the trees

Penguin:

Stiff flipper-like wings allow them to “fly” through the water

Large webbed feet help to steer

Built-in goggles (nictitating membrane) allow penguins to see their food underwater

Dense, waterproof feathers act like a wetsuit – keeping the birds dry in icy water

Countershading – camouflages penguins from predators above and below

Strong beak with a hook on the end and ridges inside mouth to capture and eat slippery fish

Raptor:

Strong curved talons catch and kill prey

Sharp hooked beak rips and tears food into pieces

Excellent eyesight helps them to find food from a great distance

Falcon:

Narrow, pointed wings for speed when diving after prey

Long tail to help with steering in flight

Owl:

Feathers around face (facial disk) funnel sound back towards the owl’s ears

Ears at slightly different locations on the owl’s head allow the bird to triangulate the exact location of prey – even in complete darkness

Fringed feathers give the owl almost silent flight to sneak up on prey

Extremely flexible neck lets the owl turn its head 270 degrees to make up for lack of eye muscles

Vulture:

Not a raptor, but a bird of prey (lacks strong talons)

Broad wings for soaring high to spot food

“Bald” head stays cleaner than feathers would when the birds plunge into a meal

Vultures can vomit when threatened

Vultures poop on their legs to prevent infection from carcasses and to stay cool