Name: __________________________________________ Section
Learn about Birds Internet Fact Hunt
Directions: Bookmark this web page. Click the link (colored, underlined words) to go to a site
with the question's answer. If you get a "File not found" message, use you online research skills
to locate the answer. Use the Bookmark to return to this page for the next question. Answer in
complete sentences.
1. What do birds have that NO other animal has? ____________________________________
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2. Write three things that all birds have in common.
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3. How do perching birds manage to stay in the tree even when they are asleep?
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4. If you see a bird's bill, you can guess what it eats.
Describe two different bills and what a bird with that bill would eat.
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2009 Cindy O’Hora http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/bird.html
5. True or False. Birds use wings and feathers to fly. All birds have feathers and wings. So all
birds can fly. Explain.
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6. Watch the purple martin animation in the Pop-Up window.
When do you think it has all its feathers? _________________________________________
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7. What is the wing span (distance from wing tip to wing tip) of a Great Blue Heron?
Hint: to quick find a keyword like "heron" on a long page - use the Find command.
Go Edit ... Find. Enter the keywords (Great Blue Heron). Tap the return key.
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Math challenge: Compare this with your "wing span".
Tip: The distance between your middle finger tips with your arms wide spread (your wingspan)
is about the same as your height.
Who has a larger wing span the Great Blue Heron or you?
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How much is the difference?
8. How long is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird?
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Math challenge: Compare that with the length of your index finger. Which is longer?
2009 Cindy O’Hora http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/bird.html
9. Explore these different bird nests. Describe the one you believe is most unusual.
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10. Windbreaks can be very helpful to birds. Name three ways they help.
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What organisms, other than birds, benefit from windbreaks? ___________________________
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11. Consider the planting chart for a habitat garden. Select one tree, one shrub, one vine and
a plant that would be good for birds. Write them here.
Tree - _____________________________________________________________________
Shrub -
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Vine -
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Plant -
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2009 Cindy O’Hora http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/bird.html
12. Complete an All About Birds Quiz . Write your score. __________________________
13. Name your state's official bird. Have you ever seen that bird in the wild?
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14. If you were a bird, you'd be glad you had feathers for 3 reasons.
Use your research skills to name them.
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15. Write the names of 3 endangered birds and 1 extinct bird.
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What is the difference between a bird that is endangered and a bird that is extinct?
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2009 Cindy O’Hora http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/bird.html
Harness the bird info resources All About Birds @ Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Enter the name
of one of the endangered birds you listed.
What are the chances you'll see one in your community? ______________________________
16. If someone called you a bird brain, you should reply, "Thanks!" Why?
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17. Birds gather in groups we call
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Bobwhite quail gather in a group called a
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Why do birds gather in these groups? _____________________________________________
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List two or more reasons that people gather in groups. ________________________________
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18. What do we call a person who studies birds? __________________________________
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Food for thought: Write a question you have had about birds or a specific bird.
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2009 Cindy O’Hora http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/bird.html
Extend your efforts:
Scientists make careful observations of animal behavior. They gain important insights into cause
and effect relations in natural phenomena. They hypothesize about why the animal is behaving
that way. If the behavior is a problem, they may try to change the animal's behavior.
Document some observations about this bird’s behavior. ______________________________
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Form a theory about why the bird is doing this. _____________________________________
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In terms of its own good, would you say this is a good thing for the bird to do or a poor
behavior?
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Check it out the article: What is that bird doing?
Based on what you know about this behavior, propose something you could do to stop a bird
from doing it.
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2009 Cindy O’Hora http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/bird.html