Be inspired by Blue Sky Bluebird, by Rick Chrustowski.
In a cozy nest of grass a female bluebird lays her eggs, blue as the summer sky. When they hatch, there are four tiny chicks to feed. The parent birds hunt all day for tasty insects to give their hungry brood. The chicks grow quickly, and within a few weeks they have enough feathers to learn to fly. At first their wings are shaky and unsure, but soon the fledglings are fast enough to catch their own meals. The nearly grown chicks help their parents raise a new brood of hungry babies—before the cold winter drives the family south.
Explore these items at the discovery table:
Bird Feeder
Nest
Egg Shells
Bird Photos
Rick Chrustowski’s slideshow of the book-making process
Bluebird nest with eggs
Bluebird nest with chicks
Can you make a nest?
With a friend, discuss what kinds of things go into making a bird's nest. Take a walk outside and collect the items you mentioned. Think especially about those things that a bird would have access to in the wild.
Come back inside and use your scavenged items to form a nest shape. You may weave or bend your materials, but you may not use glue or other adhesives.
How do birds get their nests to stay together?
Why do some birds build their nests up high?
Do birds ever use manmade materials when building their nests?
Hmmm...lots to think about!
Feeder Watching - What is it and why do we do it?
Feeder watching can be done by ANYONE...even you! It is the process of counting the number of birds at a feeder at any given time. The data is tracked and recorded on a site like feederwatch.org. Scientists use this information to track movements of birds and to understand their distribution and abundance.
Find all the materials you need at the craft table to create your own bird feeder!
What would it be like if you were a bluebird? Draw a picture, write a story, create a short video, or just tell a friend. What are some things you might experience as a bluebird?
Have a question that you want to ask a friend? Find something unique or interesting that you want to share? Click the link to add to the shared Google Doc.