Biodiversity Detectives Resources
Resources and links for the Biodiversity Detectives curriculum.
The eBird Essentials course introduces you to the eBird project and provides tips and tools for using it. We recommend you enroll and complete this free, online course before starting this curriculum. It takes 2-3 hours to complete.
Lesson 1: Bird Basics
Students learn the basic anatomy and characteristics unique to birds.
Students learn the basic anatomy and characteristics unique to birds.
- Activity 1
- The You Can Do Participatory Science video explains the basics of participatory science and how anyone can participate. Note: if you have a previous version of the curriculum, the text will say “You Can Be A Citizen Scientist”, but we’ve updated the video and language.
- Activity 3
- Activity 4
- All About Birds Online Field Guide is an extensive, easy-to-use guide for learning about birds found in North America.
Lesson 2: Identifying Birds by Size and Shape
Students begin identifying birds through the size and shape of common birds.
Blank bird group silhouettes. 
Labeled bird group silhouettes.
Students begin identifying birds through the size and shape of common birds.
- Getting Ready
- Learn how to find your most common birds through Explore Birds with Merlin App video.
- Activity 1
- Inside Birding: Size and Shape video introduces the first key on how to better identify birds.
- Bird Groups Silhouettes (blank and labeled):
Lesson 3: Amazing Bird Diversity
Birds’ diverse patterns and coloration help people distinguish between species.
Birds’ diverse patterns and coloration help people distinguish between species.
- Getting Ready
- Learn how to use the Merlin Bird ID app with this demonstration video.
- Learn how to find your most common local birds through the Explore Birds with Merlin App video, which you will use in Activity 4.
- Activity 1
- The interactive version of the Wall of Birds mural allowed students to explore birds of all continents and their extinct ancestors.
- Activity 2
- With the All About Bird Anatomy page, students understand bird anatomy in-depth.
- Activity 3
- Inside Birding: Color Pattern video explains how you can use color and plumage as a bird ID tool.
- Mourning Dove mystery bird videos. Please note that you will need to make these full screen prior to showing your students because they are identified as Mourning Doves below the video playing.
- Activity 4
- All About Birds Online Field Guide is an extensive, easy-to-use guide for identifying birds found in North America and resource for learning about birds.
- Going Further, Explore Feathers
- Feathers Through Time interactive
Lesson 5: Introducing eBird
Students learn how eBird data help scientists better understand bird distribution and abundance.
Students learn how eBird data help scientists better understand bird distribution and abundance.
- Getting Ready
- The eBird Essentials course introduces you to the eBird project and provides tips and tools for using it.
- Activity 3
Lesson 6: Birds Throughout the Seasons
Some birds are migratory while others are not.
American Crow. Photo credit: Michael Doucet, July 3, 2017 Barn Swallow. Photo Credit: Mathew Thekkethala / Macaulay Library (ML191174971)
Some birds are migratory while others are not.
- Activity 1 & 2
- Activity 3
- Animated abundance models: American Crow and Barn Swallow (click the play arrow under the right-hand Abundance heading and you may need to recenter the maps to the Western Hemisphere)
- Photos (below): American Crow (top) and Barn Swallow (bottom)
- Activity 4
