ConnectingKidsThroughBirds

EducatorsThese teaching slides were created by the BirdSleuth K-12 team. We welcome you to share these slides with your students! You may edit this file, but please do not distribute this file (neither original or edited versions).Other resources pertaining to this content can be found at: www.birdsleuth.org/webinar-series/birdtalk. Need help or have questions? Please contact BirdSleuth at birdsleuth@cornell.edu or consult the BirdSleuth website at www.birdsleuth.org. Join BirdSleuth on our social networks at:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BirdSleuth/40097433976Twitter: https://twitter.com/BirdSleuthPinterest: http://pinterest.com/birdsleuth/boards/

Version 2.0 July 17, 2014

BirdSleuth K-12

Red-winged BlackbirdTufted TitmouseNorthern CardinalOvenbirdAmerican RobinEuropean StarlingBlack-capped Chickadee

Play Mystery Sound! >

BirdSleuth K-12All of the birds here are Passerines, meaning they belong to an the order Passeriformes, the largest order of birds. Passerines are often also called perching birds or songbirds, which makes sense because perching and singing typically go hand in hand for birds. Most songbirds like to be able to get a good view of their surroundings while they sing, so they sit atop wires, branches, poles, and other perches as they belt out their songs, just as all of the birds here are doing. The Black-capped Chickadee, the Red-winged Blackbird, and the American Robin are especially common throughout North America and easy to find singing! Take your kids out side and see if you can catch one of these birds in concert!

Play the mystery sound, see if students know whos singing. Then play one or more of the birds to check answer.

Photos:http://www.flickr.com/photos/48311154@N02/7126259115/in/photolist-bRHWyt-bRHWyk-9kjTBj-9cm9K3-9kjTBo-aumTrg-9wfKHy-9wfKty-9zmjLC-9kZbvH-9kZbx8-9kZbsP-9m3fod

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14904010@N02/6193462621/in/photolist-ari7Ei-36tcao-djc4zg-6yfKge-6yfJUa-f6eP9r-f6ePbF-f6u4SC-ari8FF-8CoE6K-8CoEhv-aoFCs7-axEhMY-8G4Xos-aoCUpx-aoFC3s-aoCWPP-aoFDhy-aoCVGT-atpdFP-atrTjU-axEi33-axEipC-8G1MfV-8G4YjN-8G1LTB-atrTb9-auWReH-ari7mz-auZxDq-anh1Hi-auZyoj-auZy1S-ari8bX-5CZQx8-ezQ8J-egSZ8L-4nndL3-9Jii4T-egSZbu-6iP1JB-cnXSQb-c2X125-c2X1xy-6kMcKH-6kMcBn-6kRmCd-6kRmtf-3vg6d-6oAtzS-6oAtDJ

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43322816@N08/6498993099/in/photolist-aUi3ea-a9b7EV-b3c6QH-diNCAn-4Qtosu-9fvEho-diNxbv-8opyYL-8opxS9-8omneM-9cikdR-8opytL-2pHMbA-9FA2Hf-RKYR-dBkBoJ-99CDx8-5VSgEq-94Umbv-7cgtkS-4XGy4Y-8Yr5qv-9Qgqjc-J4xSP-8TuLaR-7PikE4-7D3bzU-bMMy2H-aojGgY-duakLo-BCZzC-4wWrdk-4wWr8T-4wWr5K-4x1AsN-4x1AxE-5Qh6hi-5Qh6gp-5Qh6kT-dZzPBa-9dyJgZ-e9jXqe-7WgjLh-9hYvPZ-3dw5bb-tyX1P-9SjUxT-doiySL-9FAdTw-aCarow-H8DCs

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48311154@N02/8872300435/in/photolist-ew1RPa-9QmPQG-edb4EQ-ew1Rxc-9QmPQU-9QmPR5-9QmPR1-9JsPLp-9FPLny-a72moz-9FdzoQ-a1eKPR-a1eKQ6-dn21Wc-e7hrEg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/71833159@N00/279463228/in/photolist-qGjFw-aDytx9-KtGgx-KtGgn-KtGfZ-5ko5SQ-qGA4t-4z6JpZ-teTsC-9Pkro2-95Hg89-9Vxf62-bybX5y-7UtCc7-8fqGJZ-cHH3qE-e9Xbs8-4TZuHE-54xZz9-ea3Pbj-bpw84x-92ayA1-e6Vh48-9GG3er-9xsUqn-7A5Gjs-54xLu3-qGGLD-bjk4TZ-4Pug1z-4U6UXB-8oyqYA-54tCbv-aXM6iv-9SpQCt-eKs1VT

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48311154@N02/6189906823/in/photolist-aqYTDr-bvKR65-dm6kUX-bu9afo-aqYTDg-aqYTDi-bu9afh-9mguzb-9nabam-dMCLc4-dMCLcP-9nabaw-bcof9i-bcof9e-bcof9a-dXd4UX-dniTPK-dRsmi4-dNV5yC-bRHWyP-8TrWs3-dwbX42-9mPfnt-9mPfnB-eLGjHW-9mPfnM-9mPfnn-bu9afm-9rSAwY-9rSAwQ-9rSAxb-9mPfnR-bEqMHp-bAwgjb-bEqMHv-9wfKHy-bPLny2-9jswuQ-9jswuW-9jswuU-9jswuS-9dUCCE-9rSAwy-9rSAxh-cuhCNN-eLuVBx-eLGj7w-dGZidm-9gwMMh-9dUCCC-9tQBgd

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48311154@N02/6644070381/in/photolist-b87ADB-9X5txD-9X5txH-9X5txP-9X5txK-9X5txT-dZtcno-b7ATmc-8RUFwV2

Song or call?A song is typically longer and more complex, often with specific repeated patternsUsually used to attract mates or defend territoryA call is usually shorter and simplerUsed to sound alarms, tell others about food, keep track of each otherHey sweetie, come check out my awesome territory and my nice colors

Im here! Where are you?

BirdSleuth K-12The terms bird song and bird call are often used interchangeably, but are they actually the same thing? Technically, there is no real difference between calls and songs in terms of their function or acoustic structure. Think about it from the birds perspective: theyre not thinking of things in terms of songs versus calls, so why should we? But it is natural and often convenient for us humans to characterize the actions of animals in a way that is familiar to us, so the term song has come to connote a longer, more complex, while the term call connotes a shorter, simpler vocalization.

The sound files are Black-capped Chickadee mating and contact calls.

Photos:http://www.flickr.com/photos/69214385@N04/8619850011/in/photolist-e8GZ6D-7Yd7gU-7Y9RLc-7Yd7g5-7Y9RKi-9kfRjB-4vvp6V-4gcr2f-dmphU-3fWYTu-6xiezE-5fyszj-7v6jWA-6qhGDX-5fyszy-7CXYv6-atYH8z-5GC3g-bPrQXX-daz9zL-6bcoag-7W4oVM-4qFM34-9EGV6F-5QURY-FDGGt-7q17MH-eFGY2-dPEQ6L-dVpKs-4GLdy4-a1Tjz1-bZv5qS-7TW28m-6nRtFu-dVrZT4-bvC2JJ-6CFvce-6nMjr6-aqCMsD-bmHbg3-e8GZnr-eoi2So-6eWdg1-dafWwX-etmeZN-266E7z-6Bt8F7-4Kjqak-Ao6GC-ckMc

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53537861@N00/45947808/in/photolist-54uFA-7wzWTM-dVrZT4-bvC2JJ-4Urkrc-83ErrD-6CFvce-6nMjr6-9GhbLY-aqCMsD-a5Vzm-bmHbg3-jiF1j-cK5Ro-jiF1r-6yvTx9-e8GYLv-64WDYT-e8GZnr-eoi2So-6eS3S2-6eWdg1-51nwDw-dPxKDL-7qb2qr-65qD7Y-HvUiD-dafWwX-4QLCi1-5vpQjw-etmeZN-9HujUC-bApttE-bBFcX6-266E7z-8u9jvJ-4iggVN-6Bt8F7-4Kjqak-bMhLNa-aD1a5n-c75NA5-6aj7tD-q5qs8-4fgwDH-7VYCD4-bTQqfM-2qzXV-7Q89wg-4rXnrM-dEZ1jx

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjsmithphotography/5483518528/

3Why do birds vocalize?For many birds, vocalizations are the main mode of communication. Some bird use non-vocal communication (for example, a woodpecker drumming.

BirdSleuth K-12Birds dont just sing and call because it sounds prettyvocalizations are the main mode of communication for many birds. Bird songs are just like a foreign language that we humans cant understand. Different calls send different messages to other birds, just like different words convey different messages to other people.

Photo: male American Robin singing.

Photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/36881921@N00/2540240054/in/photolist-4StoSj-a1Tjz1-Ao6GC-ckMc-83Pzrr-bZv5qS-9PjRNo-9PjNoq-9PjUgw-9PjUKy-9Ph2PF-9PjQby-9Ph5HP-9Ph6iM-9PjQGd-9Ph1Q8-3faMzd-7TW28m-9wDEfQ-6nRtFu-83HxQh-54uFA-7wzWTM-dVrZT4-bvC2JJ-4Urkrc-83ErrD-6CFvce-6nMjr6-9GhbLY-aqCMsD-a5Vzm-bmHbg3-jiF1j-cK5Ro-jiF1r-6yvTx9-e8GYLv-64WDYT-e8GZnr-eoi2So-6eS3S2-6eWdg1-51nwDw-dPxKDL-7qb2qr-65qD7Y-HvUiD-dafWwX-4QLCi1-5vpQjw4Bird TalkBirds use unique songs and calls to communicate different messages.Different species have different songs and calls in their repertoire.

BirdSleuth K-12As a class, brainstorm reasons why birds might communicate vocally. If students struggle, you might first want to think about the reasons humans communicate.

Different species have different vocabularies of calls. Different birds have various combinations alarm calls, injury calls, territorial calls, flight calls, begging calls, courtship calls, and many others. Each different call conveys a different message to the members of that birds species. Well go over some of these calls and their purposes.

Photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/37015070@N00/4835175722/in/photolist-8ngxhE-4Uy57x-5J5JLn-8ZmrgS-6u94rF-oQdCt-6uL6Et-eZf9PJ-ck4swW-ejVhUu-ejPwLe-7bjiSW-aHqRq-7qCGto-6y9JuQ-B4XKU-66h5zm-GPhHk-a6zJkZ-dzoEeQ-89JUDp-bxVtgW-2yXDxb-8JGvWg-eekkkd-6RKPsC-7WjfDr-ejnRoA-jZfdT-LjKkr-4greeK-8t6Khg-5U4FbU-bCsXkF-4B9MA2-bfrPtZ-t88Y5-3oVxSy-CyoEC-efq26s-n75mX-4VbRyb-aiZB8S-aiZBc1-aiWNZT-aiZB2G-aiZBf5-7NsdRm-HQb79-dA7hED-MsS2S5How do birds vocalize?Humans have a larynx that allows us to vocalizeBirds have a similar structure, called a syrinx

BirdSleuth K-12Weve seen that birds have pretty extraordinary vocal abilities, but how do they do it? How do such small creatures create sounds that can be heard over such long distances? They must have some serious pipesand they do. You probably know of the larynx, or voice box, which is what allows humans to vocalize. Well instead of a larynx, birds have a similar structure called a syrinx, which is basically just a super-larynx. The syrinx is basically a double-larynx, allowing the bird to make two separate sounds at the same time. This is why birds are able to produce such rich, complex sounds.

RETRIEVE THE VIDEO FOR THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS AT THIS SITE: http://biology.allaboutbirds.org/the-language-of-birds/

Images:Captured from The Language of Birds CLO videolink is available at the BirdSleuth resource page for this webinar.6Non-Vocal SoundsSome birds use non-vocal sounds to convey messagesWoodpeckers tap on tree trunks to attract a mate or defend territory

BirdSleuth K-12Some birds use non-vocal sounds to communicate as well. Woodpeckers, for examples, tap rhythms on tree trucks that other members of their species recognize. Hey may use these non-vocal sounds to attract mates or defend territory.

Photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/38142819@N02/3555060276/in/photolist-6q9ByG-4kvMoM-Hjp6L-8KUS26-4C8P8A-87VCAa-87YNCG-87Vzse-67WkXr-84feCy-5FhApZ-83yQ89-2dgpxE-4GpkW9-4GpkTj-9urMPg-6oG1jt-68ZM6i-azG7Fg-LoXme-6yriH1-6e2uYZ-9yPNgF-7vUjed-c7zRfL-8az1vv-rURec-5qwcF-4nVoJp-joeDA-664rdN-6qXYaF-9Gosk-4MVi24-C5mW4-ekn32S-97TbWb-7S7RvA-3bVCZq-7XnPeg-7XnNXM-8i4jW-dKcaGa-9vcCXx-8XLvBi-7obyA8-4MPxj2-4MSCFe-87m22-664roG-4xvdzY7