Speaking of Beaks?
Birds have a host of fascinating adaptations for survival, but beaks (also known as bills) take the cake when it comes to feeding. Each species has a unique snout that just happens (thanks to evolution) to enable it to access the "right" food. If students haven't already commented on that creature feature, ask what they can notice about if and how beaks relate to birds' food preferences. What can we learn from the shape of a bill about the foods a bird is likely to eat? (Beak shapes are also helpful characteristics for identifying birds.) Allow students to observe over time to make some of these connections. When appropriate, use some of the following information to spark thinking.

Well-Adapted Beaks

What, No Teeth? Your keen observers might notice or question whether birds have teeth. (They don't.) How do they handle those hard seeds? Birds have strong acids in their stomachs that help digest food. From there, hard foods, such as nuts, seeds, and grains, go into the gizzard (a muscular part of the stomach) where it is further ground up. Many birds actually swallow small stones or grit, which help break down the food!

Hummingbirds have long slender beaks that allow them to delicately probe flowers in search of nectar. (Although it's not easy to observe, they are also hollow.) Short, thick, cone-shaped beaks, such as those on cardinals, sparrows, and grosbeaks, are ideal for cracking hard seeds. Swallows and others that gather insects in flight can open their beaks wide to get a mouthful. Some birds that find insects in logs and twigs, such as warblers, have small sharp beaks while others, like woodpeckers, have long and chisel-like beaks for boring deep. Birds of prey have sharp hooked beaks for tearing into meat. The common crow has a multipurpose beak suitable for eating fruit, seeds, insects, and fish. Some ducks and other water birds have bills that act like strainers to gather tiny plants and animals. Herons have spear-like bills for fishing.

Once students have been steeped in beaks, you might want to bring in or challenge them to find tools that have functions similar to bird beaks and try using them to access different food sources. (A hummingbird's beak acts like a straw, for instance. A nutcracker functions like the beaks on seed-eating birds. The beaks of many water birds function much like strainers.)

illustration by Alysha

Discover More Clever Adaptations
Beaks are but one of the amazing adaptations that makes birds, well, birds! Invite students to focus on other parts of birds' bodies. What similarities and differences in structure do students notice? Ask the class to consider advantages of different features and then research to learn more about them.

All birds have feathers, for instance (strong contour feathers for flight and downy ones near the body for insulation), but they come in different shapes and colors. Students might discover that the colors are brightest during the spring and summer or that some birds of a species are brighter than others. (Males are usually the vibrant ones whose coloring impresses potential mates during breeding season!) How might different wing sizes be an advantage? Soaring birds, like eagles, have large wing spans, but songbirds that live in the woods must have short wings in order to maneuver. If students notice birds preening, let them know that an oil gland on their rumps secretes oil that they spread on feathers to keep them waterproof and flexible. Observe evidence of birds' eyesight and hearing (both are excellent) and then research how these features help them survive.

Then there is that characteristic so many of us enjoy: birdsong. Do students notice differences in the amount or nature of birds' songs during different times of year? And who, in fact, does the singing? (Males do most of the singing to attract females or tell other males to stay away. Also watch for displays such as thumping and strutting.) In addition to a melodious song, most birds also have shorter call notes to warn others. Many bird guides mention words or phrases that birders employ to identify certain bird songs. Robins, for instance, sound as though they're "saying" cheery, cheerio. Some, like chickadees, are said to say their own names. Students may want to make up their own words or other devices to help them identify bird songs in the schoolyard or neighborhood. (This color- and sound-rich bird song site is well worth a visit.)

Other Schoolyard Bird-Inspired Activities

Identification
Have students list characteristics that help them distinguish between birds they observe. Once they've made their own distinctions, introduce a bird field guide so the class can learn how birds are typically identified: by marks and colors, sizes and shapes, wings and flight patterns, behaviors, habitat. The class may decide to create their own field guide to birds in the schoolyard or neighborhood.

Birds in Peril
Birds not only delight us, but they are important to the global ecosystem. They spread plant seeds, eat pesky insects, feed on decaying matter, and much more. They are also harbingers of the health of our planet, as their populations readily show effects of pollution and other perils. But many species of our feathered friends are in decline. Scientists believe this may be due, in part, to habitats being lost or fragmented due to clearing, development, and building on wetlands. Other factors, such as house cats, pesticides, and oil spills threaten birds. You may want to have students conduct research to learn more about these factors and then consider how they might take constructive action. For instance, they could make nesting boxes, continue feeding birds throughout year, garden for the birds, or donate time or funds to efforts to improve habitats locally and nationally.

Follow Migration
As your students keep their eyes trained on birds over time, they will likely notice that certain species are more abundant during some periods than others. In fact, some species may be absent altogether for months on end. You may want to have the class research where they go and why and how they do it (there are some great Web resources). As they explore the amazing feat of migration, have students think about what would happen if birds in Northern climes stuck around through the year. How much food could they find? As the sunlight becomes more available in the North each spring and plants and other animals come to life, food becomes readily available. The reverse happens each fall. (Kids may notice a feeding frenzy in late summer and fall as birds prepare for the journey. Hormonal changes in migrating birds trigger accumulation of fats, which are vital for making sometimes incredibly long journeys. (Some small birds store enough fat that they can fly non-stop for unbelievable lengths of time -- sometimes up to 90 hours. And, they seem to find their way without asking directions!)