Youth Action for Birds Resources

Here you will find resources and links for the leader guide, eBird Explorers: Youth Action for Birds.

General Links

Download the lesson slides for the whole curriculum. You will need to download them from box and open them through PowerPoint for the videos and media to display properly.

Tips for Taking Youth Outside.

Birdability, a non-profit with resources for making birding more accessible.

Lesson 1: Who are scientists?

Big Idea: Everyone has scientific skills and traits, and we use these skills and traits every day. Youth can build science skills through participatory science.

• You Can Do Participatory Science video
• eBird live submission Map
• Downloadable eBird Map
  

Activity 2 video alternative: Choose one or two of the “In the Field” videos from these conservation scientist profiles.

Lesson 2: Building Observation Skills

Big Idea: Observation is a foundational scientific skill and that can be built through practice.

Lesson 3: Introducing Birds!

Big idea: Birds are a group of animals with two wings, a beak, and two legs that lay hard-shelled eggs. Birds are the only living animals with feathers.

• Choose one or more of the following Introducing Birds videos to show your class.
  • Black birds and woodpeckers at the Cornell Feeder Cam.
  • Rock Pigeons flying through city.
  • A Cackling Goose swimming surrounded by Canada Geese.
  • Pair of Wood Thrush at a nest.
  • A female American Robin reinforces her nest with mud.
  • Turkey Vulture in flight.
• Open all of these All About Birds profiles to explore these videos, listen to sounds, and see more photos.
  • House Sparrow
  • American Robin
  • American Crow
  • Canada Goose

Lesson 4: Introduction to Bird ID

Big Idea: There are many different kinds of birds. We can begin to identify them by comparing their size and shape.

• Visit the All About Birds website to view images of your nine bird bingo species.

Lesson 5: Practicing Bird ID

Big Idea: The data that youth collect to support participatory-science projects like eBird can help conserve bird species.

Lesson 6: Bird Body Parts & Field Marks

Big Idea: A bird’s overall color pattern provides important clues for identification.

Lesson 7: Focusing on Local Birds

Big ID: Youth become bird ID experts on a focus bird.

• The All About Birds website allows students to do research on their Focus Bird and become an expert on the species!

Lesson 8: Habitat & Adaptations

• Big Idea: Birds live in many different types of habitats and have developed adaptations over time to survive and reproduce in their habitat.

Lesson 9: Focusing on Local Habitat

Big Idea: Youth can contribute to the eBird database by submitting their bird sightings and explore the database to answer questions about their local habitats.

• Mapping software like Google Earth can help you find different types of habitat in your county.
• Visit eBird.org to submit your eBird list.
• The eBird live submissions map is where you can see your eBird list appear as it is submitted!

Lesson 10: The Big Picture

Big Idea: Youth can make a difference for birds by engaging in participatory science and taking action in their own communities.

• The 3 Billion Birds website explores some of the challenges facing North America’s birds and proposes some solutions.
• Watch the 3 Billion Birds Lost video on the main 3 Billion Birds page or on YouTube.
• Explore the 7 Simple Actions to discover ways to help birds in your everyday life.
• Visit Why Birds Matter to discover how helping birds helps us all.

Lesson 11: Project Implementation

Big Idea: Youth can make a difference for birds by taking action in their own communities.