Nest Builders, Inc.: students learn about animal survival and camouflage with this activity - Hands-On Science

There about as many different kinds of bird nests as there are birds! Working from an instinctive blueprint, birds build nests to protect their eggs and young from predators and adverse weather. Using mostly materials from their habitat, many birds construct nests that are hidden from predators' view in inaccessible locations. In other words, birds' nests are great for teaching kids about a key aspect of animal survival--camouflage.

This spring, as the birds are busy constructing their nests, let your students get into the nestbuilding business as well. While your construction crew is busy at work, they will be learning about how and why birds build nests. They will also develop a new sense of appreciation for the craftsmanship put forth by these pint-sized architects.

BIRDS AT WORK

Concepts: Each species of bird builds a unique nest. These nests are a place to raise and protect their young.

Skills: observing, communicating, measuring, comparing, making models

Materials: nest-building stuff (This will depend on the birds for which your students will be building model nests. Several good books on birds and their nesting materials are listed in the Resources box.); roll of thin, flexible wire; newspaper to cover the work space

Procedure:

1. Start this activity by asking your students to name some examples of structures built by animals (nests: birds, wasps, alligators; lodge: beavers; burrow: prairie dogs). Then ask: Why do animals build these structures? (Answers include: protection from predators and harsh weather, a haven to raise young, a place to store and catch food.)

2. Tell students they have just been hired by a company called Nest Builders, Inc. to build model bird nests. Before building, they will need to consider what kind of bird they are building a nest for; what materials this bird uses to build its nest; what size the nest should be; and what kind of environment this bird lives in. If you like, you could make a list of housing requirements for common birds, such as:

* Barn swallows: Mud and straw, feathers for nest interior (preferably white poultry feathers). Will build near other barn swallows.

* Carolina wren: Leaves, moss, twigs, bark strips. Inside to be lined with hair, wool, and fine grasses. Prefer hole in a tree or birdhouse for nest location.

* Crow: Need space in tree for a single nest made of sticks, moss, leaves, feathers. Nest should be about 9 inches high.

* Oriole: Looking for a branch in tree. Need plant fibers (milkweed is good), hair, and grapevine bark to make a hanging nest.

3. Divide the class into crews of two or three students. Let each crew decide on a bird for which they will be building a nest. To help them gather information for nest construction, give each crew a work-order form like the one below:

Made-to-Order Bird Nests

Name of Bird:-- Describe the bird's neighborhood

Nest building materials needed

Description of nest model (size, shape, color)

Constructed by:

Give the crews several days to collect the materials they will need.

4. For some nests it may be helpful for students to start with a wire frame. To make the frame, cut a piece of wire 24 inches long. Loosely wrap the wire around your hand four times. Secure the four wire loops with a twist tie. Hold the loops opposite from where they are secured, and pull apart (this will resemble a figure eight). Spread all four loops into a cloverleaf shape, then bend upwards to form a bowl-shaped frame.

5. Give students about an hour to build their nests. Some nests may need time to dry overnight.

6. Decide on a day for an open house for prospective buyers. Post signs announcing the event.

7. Assign a space for each model nest to be displayed. Each crew should prepare a brief presentation of its model nest, showing off its special features.

8. What's an open house without refreshments? Plan a birdy buffet, including treats like sunflower seeds, raisins, worms (gummy, of course), oranges, peanuts, and nectar (juice). Your students will be eating like birds, as well as building like them.

9. While students snack, discuss the nest-building experience. Ask:

* Why do you think birds use the materials they do? (Blends with environment; size of the material appropriate to bird's size.)

* Compare how you built the nest with how the actual birds do it. How would you rate the difficulty of nest building? Contact a local wildlife agency or the Audubon Society to see if they have real bird nests they can loan you.

* What have you learned?

ANIMAL ARCHITECTS

Birds aren't the only animals that build structures. Many others construct structures for shelter, protection from predators, or to collect or store food. To find out more about these animal architects, guide students in setting up and completing a chart like the one below:

Animal

Type of Structure

Purpose of Structure

Structure's Size

Materials Used

After completing the chart, students can illustrate or make a model of one of these animal structures.

RELATED ARTICLE: Welcome to My Bower

The male satin bowerbird builds a bower, an arched structure made of sticks, to attract a mate. Next, this Australian bird collects mostly blue objects--feathers, flowers, even blue-colored clothespins--to decorate the bower. As a finishing touch, the bowerbird paints the inside of the bower blue, using juice from berries.

RELATED ARTICLE: Resources

Peterson Field Guides: Birds' Nests by Hal H. Harrison (Houghton Mifflin, 1975)

And So They Build by Bert Kitchen (Candlewick Press, 1993)

Animal Architects (National Geographic Society, 1987)

The Kids' Wildlife Book by Warner Shedd (Williamson Publishing, 1994).

Reading Rainbow video featuring the book Is This a House for Hermit Crabby Megan McDonald. $43.95 each. Call (800) 2284630.

COPYRIGHT 1995 Scholastic, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group