Birds, Birds, Birds

Pre-Activity: Swamp Mural

Overview: Create a swamp habitat mural in your classroom and learn all about the critters that live there, with a focus on the birds.

Length: Approximately 1 hour

Background: In North America, a swamp is a wetland that is at least partially covered with water and dominated by woody vegetation. The water can be fresh water or salt water, and it moves very slowly, if at all. Swamps are found in areas with low topographic relief. They are rich in biodiversity and provide food, breeding grounds and protection for many animal species. Birds, in particular, rely on swamps and other wetlands during their spring and fall migrations. Swamps are also important to humans, as they protect our homes from flooding.

Materials: Large sheet of butcher paper

Construction Paper

Markers

Tape

Books or computers as research resources

Instructions:

Discuss as a class what a swamp habitat is like. Make a list of all the things you would normally find in a swamp (water, trees, alligators, etc.). Ask the students if they know any birds that would live in the swamp (Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, Cardinal, Anhinga, Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Pileated Woodpecker and many others). We recommend showing pictures of these birds so students can identify them.
Let each student or groups of students choose a different bird that would be found in a swamp, and ask them spend some time researching the bird’s food, water and shelter preferences.
When they are ready, each student/group should create a picture of a swamp by drawing the natural features of the swamp on the butcher paper, making sure to include their bird’s food, water and shelter on the mural.
Each student/group should cut out a picture of their bird and place it on their swamp mural in its appropriate habitat.