Audubon Adventures

wild about birds

Activities

printer-friendlyActivity 3
Build a Bird and Wildlife Park
dingbatTeacher-led Classroom/Field Activity
Science/Research/Engineering Design/Math

 

What would the “perfect” park look like through the eyes of the birds and wildlife that live in or migrate through your area?

Patterson park

Objective:

Students conduct research then design and, if possible, implement their designs of a park and its components as habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Research Questions and Procedures:

  1. Research the types of birds and wildlife that are found in your area.
    • Are they year-round residents?
    • Are they migrants that fly through in the fall and spring?
  2. What are the needs of your wildlife “tenants” and how will you provide for them?
    • Do they need water…
    • to live in?
    • to get food from?
    • to simply swim around in?
    • Where do they live and in what type of habitat do they live/nest?
    • What do they eat?
  3. How will people fit into your park without disturbing the birds?
    • Consider constructing walking areas/boardwalks to keep people out of critical habitat.
    • Would it be advantageous to build “blinds” in various locations for wildlife photographers? If so, where would you place them?

 

Sample Activities/Projects

  • Design the park and draw it to scale. Small groups can address specific parts of the park and put everything together at the end to create the entire park.
  • Design and build a nest box.
  • Design and build a water feature.
  • Design and build a birding blind.
  • Design and build walkways/boardwalks.

 

Turn any/all of these activities into STEM lessons. Utilize the Engineering Design Loop below and have the students actually build the park and/or components as listed above.  

stem chart

 

Helpful Websites

https://www.audubon.org/bird-guide
http://www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds
http://www.audubon.org/native-plants
http://www.audubon.org/news/how-make-your-yard-bird-friendly-0
http://www.audubon.org/magazine/july-august-2013/how-create-bird-friendly-yard
http://www.nwf.org/Garden-For-Wildlife/Wildlife/Attracting-Birds.aspx

Photos: (t)Camilla Cerea; (ctr) Toyota TogetherGreen.