Upload
berg
View
43
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The Secret Life of Bluebirds. Anne Zeise. Some are BIG. The bald eagle’s nest can be more than 6 feet across- big enough for you to lay down in. Some are small . The ruby-throated hummingbird’s nest is about as big as a quarter and the eggs the size of jelly beans. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
{
The Secret Life of Bluebirds
Different birds build different kinds of nests
Some are BIG. The bald eagle’s nest can be more than 6 feet across- big enough for you to lay down in.
Some are small. The ruby-throated hummingbird’s nest is about as big as a quarter and the eggs the size of jelly beans.
Anne Zeise
Some birds lay their nest on the ground like this eastern towhee.
Some birds attach their nests to a wall, like this barn swallow.
Birds nest in different places
Some birds build their nest in a hole in a tree or a “cavity”
Woodpeckers drill cavities in dead trees.
The red-cockaded woodpecker is the only bird that drills cavities in live pine trees.
Terry Sohl
Hairy Woodpecker Brady Beck
When a woodpecker abandons the nest cavity, it can be taken over by a lot of other animals who depend on these “secondary cavities”
Brady Beck
Brady Beck
Bill Stice
Brown-headed nuthatch Flying squirrel
Carolina chickadee
Screech owl
Eastern bluebird
Fox squirrel
Protection from predators Protection from the weather
There are several advantages to nesting in a cavity
There are some disadvantages to nesting in a cavity
It can get very hot in a cavity during the summer Therefore most cavity nesting birds start nesting
earlier in the year than other birds
It can take a long time for a woodpecker to create a cavity and there may not be enough cavities to go around for all the animals who want to use them
Providing nest boxes helps cavity nesting birds, like bluebirds, by providing a nesting place they may not otherwise have
We are one of 8 schools in the state to get a bird box with a solar powered remote camera to allow us to see inside the secret world of a bluebird nest
Wiley Elementary School has teamed up with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission to help birds and provide a great learning opportunity.
The box has a tiny camera under the lid
How it works
The camera is powered by a battery that is recharged by the sun using a solar panel
The picture from the camera is sent to the classroom similar to how radio signals are sent through the air
A receiver in the classroom picks up this signal and allows us to see inside the box on our smart board
We will see and hear whatever activity is going on inside the box
The camera is looking down into the box from under the lid
In the low light inside the box, the images will not have much color
What will we see?
Our box could attract one of several species of birds- or nothing at all
We will discuss what to expect if we get bluebirds
Bluebird nesting cycle
Bluebirds will start looking for a suitable cavity in the middle of winter. If you see 2 bluebirds inside the box it means a breeding pair is checking it out. The brighter blue bird is the male and the grayer bird is the female.
Nest Building
By late winter, the birds will begin building a nest, carrying in grasses and leaves to form a cup.
Egg Laying
Once the nest is complete, the female lays one egg a day until she has laid a full “clutch” of 4 to 6 eggs. She will not start incubating (sitting on the eggs) until all are laid, so you will see the eggs unattended when she is not laying.
Incubation
In order for the chick to develop inside the egg, it needs to be kept warm. The adult keeps the eggs warm by sitting on them. The female will lose the feathers on her chest so she can keep the eggs directly against her skin. She will take a break only to go find food.
Hatching
After 12 to 14 days of incubating, the chicks will hatch. Even though the eggs were laid on different days, they will all hatch on the same day because the adults do not start incubating (and thus the chicks do not start developing) until all eggs are laid. Look for the adults to remove the egg shells from the nest, or eat them!
Feeding nestlings
As the chicks grow, the adults need to bring them food. Both the male and female will bring caterpillars, spiders, beetles, and other insects. The better the habitat for bugs around the nest, the easier it will be for the parents and the faster the chicks will grow. By planting a garden and bushes, WPE has improved the habitat for bugs and birds. Look for frequent feeding trips from both inside and outside the box.
Newly hatched, the chicks eyes are closed and their bodies only have a little bit of fuzz
Eyes open by day 5 to 8 and tips of feathers start to develop. Adults stop “brooding” chicks to keep them warm at day 7 to 9.
By day 13 to 14 the feathers are covering most of the body. The males have brighter blue feathers.
16 to 21 days after hatching, the nest is getting crowded and the birds are ready to “fledge”, or leave the nest.
Fledging
One by one the chicks will leave the nest until the last one is gone.
Fledging
The parents will continue to feed the chicks for a few weeks after leaving the nest, so look for “your” babies around the garden and playground.
Check the video image daily to follow the nesting cycle
Take time to observe the box when you are outside the school. Look for birds finding food in and around the garden.
Consider setting up a bird box at your home
Please do
Bang on the side of the box or try to look inside the box while the birds are nesting. Too much disturbance will cause the birds to leave.
Please do not
Have fun!