Migration

Feltboard story about a Swainson Thrush (on left) that chooses to migrate and a Black-capped Chickadee (on right) that decides to stay home for the winter.

This is the second bird lesson I taught for our Thursday homeschool group.  The first lesson was about bird feathers, beaks, and feet.

Bird Migration Lesson:

• First we discussed the Autumnal Equinox and changes in daylight hours, weather, and plants.  We also discussed how animals adapt to these changes.

• Next I performed "Fly Away or Stay" (Hands-on Nature by Lingelbach & Purcell), modified from a puppet show to a feltboard story.

• Then we reviewed the following birds: Northern Cardinals, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and Double-crested Cormorants.  For each bird, students thought about if the bird's food is available here in the winter, and then decided to stay in place or "migrate" to the back of the room.  Then we looked at the bird's range map.  The students also estimated how far Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrate using the range map's scale bar.

• Last, students drew a picture of a bird that migrated or stayed for the winter.

Also this month, the boys and I met with another homeschool family to hike Bald Eagle State Park Butterfly Trail.  We saw a few migrating monarchs and other butterflies on our hike.

Books:  Luck: The Story of a Sandhill Crane by George;  Bird, Butterfly, Eel by Prosek

Reference Books:  On the Wing: American Birds in Migration by Lerner;