Objectives
Students will:
- learn to collect survey data on available, or missing, habitat for local birds;
- learn about habitat elements birds need to survive; and
- raise the awareness of respondents to birds' needs.
Method
Students will conduct a survey to determine what habitat elements for birds are available or missing in their community. Results will be distributed to survey participants to help spread awareness about habitat conditions for local birds.
Materials
photocopy paper
Background
Every living thing depends on habitat to survive. Habitat provides four basic needs— food, shelter, water, and space arranged just right to support a particular species. If one or more of those elements is absent or disrupted, robins, chickadees, woodpeckers, and other wildlife will either not survive or move elsewhere to fill their needs.
Procedure
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Have students create a survey to collect data about what local homeowners are doing to help birds. The survey ought to be simple so busy homeowners have time to complete it.
- Some tips on how to create the survey are:
- At the top of the survey, explain who is conducting the survey, its goals, why it is being conducted, and how the results will be used.
- Leave space for respondents to write answers.
- Allow two weeks for respondents to answer.
- Ask students to brainstorm questions for the survey. Some sample questions could include:
- Do you attract birds to your backyard (e.g., by providing seed, nut, and berry producing trees and shrubs; water sources; nest boxes; cavity trees; flowering plants that attract insect communities; and shelter in the form of coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs)? About how long have you been engaged in this kind of activity?
- If you are not actively attracting birds to your backyard, are you interested in doing so? If so, what would you be willing to do?
- Do you spray your lawn or garden with pesticides?
- Can you name five of the bird species that you see in your backyard?
- Do you have a pet cat? Do you let it roam?
- Have students distribute their survey to respondents who are known to them, such as parents, neighbours, relatives who live in their community, and teachers, students, and school administrators. Ask them to collect completed forms within two weeks.
- Divide your class into groups of five and have each group analyse its data and report its findings to the class.
- Have the class identify patterns of responses based on group findings. Ask students to make recommendations to improve conditions for resident birds based on their overall findings. Have them prepare a summary of their findings and recommendations, and then distribute it to survey participants.
Extensions
Have students select a recommendation as the basis for an action project, such as a Habitat 2020 project to help local birds.
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