Falcons
Falcons
Purpose: To learn more about falcons
To see the Falcon Cam, click on the graphic
Resources Needed:
Internet capable computer
Created by: Lorah A. Perry
Diocese of Orange, Orange, CA
Your Task:
You will be able to learn more about falcons by clicking on each of the following questions. This will take you to various web sites where you can find the answers. You will also find lots of other neat facts about falcons and other birds of prey.
QUESTIONS TO EXPLORE:
What kind of bird is a falcon?
What adaptation makes a bird a bird?
What do falcons eat?
How fast do falcons fly?
What are some different kinds of falcons?
In what kind of habitat do falcons live?
How do falcons see?
When are falcons active?
What do peregrine falcons look like?
How healthy is the population of peregrine falcons?
What can falcons tell us about our environment?
Now that you have learned more about falcons, there are a lot more birds of prey to learn about. You can find out about red-tailed hawks, barn owls, California condors, and golden eagles by clicking on the bird's name.
ACTIVITIES:
1. Make a trading card about your favorite bird of prey.
To get a template go to:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/watch/kids/template.html
Now choose at least one of the following activities:
2. Download a picture of a bald eagle to color.
http://www.epa.gov/espp/coloring/doc22.html
3. To see an actual wild bird feeding, (you might even seen a great horned owl or various hawks) that lives nearby. Go to: http://www.wbu.com/feedercam_home.htm
4. Learn how to construct a home for owls and other birds.
Go to: http://www.fws.gov/r9mbmo/pamphlet/house.html#2k
A Few Internet Resources:
Sheppard's Science Resources
Sheppard's Useful Links
Email: lap_44@hotmail.com
Created August 10, 1999
Last Revised August 9, 2000
Teacher Notes
Suggested Grade Level: 6-7 This information is based on the Birds of Prey Traveling Scientist program from the Orange County Department of Education.
Science Content Standards:
S.C.O.R.E. Lessons Standards Search by Grade and Subject
S.C.O.R.E. Standards and Framework
California Content Standards Grades K-12
California Content Standards Grades K-12 - Science -PDF Format
Grade 6: Earth Science: 5c, 5d, 5e
Investigation & Experimentation: 7d
Grade 7: Life Science: 3e
Background:
A bird is an endothermic, two-legged, egg-laying animal with a beak, backbone,wings, camouflage coloring, and a body covered with feathers. Birds have many adaptations including flying, laying eggs, having a beak, and hollow bones. The adaptation that makes a bird a bird is feathers.
Birds of prey are animals that have adapted to hunting other animals. Some people refer to birds of prey as raptors. Raptors are carnivores who feed on both endothermic and ectothermic vertebrates, as well as insects.
There are 2 orders of birds of prey: Falconiformes and Strigiformes. Falconiformes include several different types of birds, including buteos, eagles, and accipiters. Owls are Strigiformes. Both orders have the same hunting equipment. Some of these adaptations are: acute vision, hooked beak, strong legs, and sharp talons. The main difference between the 2 orders are that Falconiformes are diurnal while Strigiformes tend to be nocturnal.
These adaptations allow for more than one type of bird of prey to live in the same ecosystem. Birds of prey are considered to be an indicator species. We can gather information on the health of an ecosystem from looking at the birds of prey that live in a particular ecosystem.
Skills:
Interpreting data, making inferences, making predictions, making comparisons, making observations, communicating
Writing a mini-report using the trading card format from a site on the Internet
One of several activities listed on the Student Page
Presentations -PowerPoint or Hyperstudio
Computer literacy
Effective use of Internet resources
Assessment:
Trading Card report; Student page activity;
Enrichment:
Presentations -HyperStudio or Student created web page.