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Bird Beak Study

Activity

Form Follows Function

Using items found around your school and in nature, create a “beak” that you can use to pick up nature items that birds might eat like berries, plants, seeds, nuts or other items you find on campus. You can use spoons, forks, tongs, chopsticks, pencils, sticks and more! What beak works best for each type of food you find? Why do you think?
Anhinga waterbird with large fish speared on its beak
Blue Heron water bird eating a small fish
an iridescent green, brown and white hummingbird flying among pink flowers

Science Seed

The saying “form follows function” applies well to bird beaks. Their shape is adapted to match their food source. Charles Darwin based his theory of evolution on the different shapes of mockingbird beaks found on different Galapagos Islands. Raptors have sharp beaks for tearing meat, seed-eating birds have thick beaks that are strong enough to crack seed shells, some shore birds have pointed beaks to spear fish, and hummingbirds have beaks that match the flowers they prefer to get nectar from.
botany jar illustration

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The Ecologist School Pocket Guide: TSBVI edition is a collaboration between Families in Nature and the Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired as an effort to help our community learn more about the TSBVI campus, while getting outside into nature together! This booklet has 80 lessons across 16 different branches of science to help you play, learn, and volunteer on campus!

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.
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