Ogden Nature Center

Welcome and Introduction

Behavioral Guidelines for visit:

• We are in the animals' neighborhood
• Stay on trails with your group unless taken off trails with class activity
• Leave flowers and plants for animals (don't pick anything)
• Pick up trail treasures to enjoy on-site, but no collecting-leave everything

What is a bird?  Characteristics of birds.

• (feathers-types and function, wings, bones-many are fused and hollow for flight, senses, beaks, warm-blooded, air sacs, lay eggs/build nests, no teeth-use crop and gizzard) 

Rotations

1.  Birds of Prey and ONC's Wild Bird Rehabilitation Program-outside at bird mews

• Special adaptations of birds of prey:  eyes, beak, talons, legs, wings/feathers
• Special adaptations of owls:  night hunters-how owls hunts, silent flight-silent feathers
• Why we keep some birds in captivity
• What you should do if you find a baby bird 

2.  Basic birdwatching-trail hike with binoculars and checklist

• Bird watching techniques
• Learning to recognize different bird vocalizations
• Identification of some common Nature Center birds

3.  Bird Adaptations for Feeding

• Flap like a bird-Students attempt to flap their arms as fast as birds flap their wings and discover how much energy it takes to fly.
• Bird Breakfast Café-Students match various types of bird meals with common kitchen tools that could be used to gather and eat the meals.  Then students match stuffed bird specimens' beaks and feet with the tools they chose. 

Topics are covered by varying degrees depending upon the maturity of students and time constraints.