Birds & Basics
What are four body parts that all birds have?
Two legs, feathers, beaks (or bills), and wings
What does the word "migrate" mean?
To move from one place to another (often seasonally)
How long should a person count birds during the Bird Count?
For at least 15 minutes.
Who uses the data collected during the Bird Count?
Scientists (who study birds)
How many days does the Bird Count last?
Four days.
Name three common kinds of birds listed in the text.
Blackbirds, doves, robins (also acceptable: sparrows, woodpeckers).
Where do some birds go before winter?
To warmer places
Name two places people can count birds
Yards and parks (also acceptable: forests, fields, and more)
Give one thing scientists learn from Bird Count data about birds (one-word answer).
Where (or distribution) — i.e., where different kinds of birds live. (Also acceptable: when, migration.)
The passage gives a surprising fact about some birds. What can some birds do while flying?
Some birds can sleep while flying.
What do we call people who watch birds as a hobby?
Bird watchers (or birders).
When do birds usually fly back after winter?
They fly back in spring.
Besides seeing birds, what else can people count to record birds?
Birds they hear (bird songs/calls)
List three questions scientists want answered about migration (from the passage)
What kinds of birds migrate, when they migrate, and where they migrate.
Approximately how many people live in the world according to the passage? (Write the number.)
8,000,000,000
Birds use wings for flying. Name one other use of wings mentioned in the passage.
Some birds use their wings to swim.
Give two reasons scientists want to know about bird migration (from the text)
Scientists want to know what kinds of birds migrate and when the birds migrate (also: where the birds migrate)
What two tools or aids can people use to help identify birds?
Apps and books (and checklists from the Bird Count website; binoculars help observe).
Explain how citizen scientists help professional scientists during the Bird Count.
People sign up, count birds in chosen locations, record numbers and locations, and upload the data so scientists have more information than they could collect alone
Besides birds, what big place includes people, countries, and oceans (word from text)?
The world.
Explain why the Great Backyard Bird Count happens each February
To watch, count, learn about, and celebrate birds and to collect data that helps scientists study where different kinds of birds live and how they migrate
Describe one way birds in groups (a flock) benefit each other (use idea from the passage).
Flocking can help birds stay together during travel and make it easier for scientists and observers to find and count them (or: safety in numbers / easier spotting
After collecting counts, where can people upload their data? Name both options given.
People can upload data onto an app or onto the Bird Count website.
Name one way scientists might use the Bird Count data to protect birds (use inference from passage about understanding & protecting).
Scientists can use the data to find where birds live and migrate, detect population changes, identify species that need conservation, and make plans to protect habitats.
Describe one interesting thing you learned from the passage and say why it surprised you.
(Example answer) I learned that some birds can sleep while flying. It surprised me because I thought animals needed to land to sleep safely