Year 7
Kookaburra week
- Taronga session
Data and big city birds
Introduction
Today Taronga zoo is asking for your help!
This weeks activity asks you to collect and analyse data, interpret results and possibly make new discoveries.
This means that you are going to be a citizen scientist.
What is citizen science?
Citizen science is the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists.
Scientists need us to do this to help them understand and solve environmental problems.
The Big City Birds project
This Taronga session we are asking you to contribute to the Big City Birds project,
The Big City Birds project aims to learn more about some of the common bird species living in our cities and their behavioural adaptations.
The data collected will help scientists understand these species’ behaviour, movement, reproduction, distribution, and habitat use in suburban areas. This information may help us understand the behavioural traits that have allowed some species to adapt to the challenges and opportunities of city living.
The slideshow shows you some of the species of birds we want to look at.
Activity 1 - Video session
Task 1
Watch the video to learn more about the Big City Birds project and see some of the birds you might see when you are collecting data.
Review the slide show from the introduction to get familiar with the common birds you might see in your local area.
Did you hear some words you didn't understand?
micro habitat - a habitat is the environment where an animal lives. The habitat contains everything the animal needs to survive such as food and shelter. A microhabitat is a small area, so your neighbourhood can be considered a micro habitat.
food availability - how much and what type of food is around for an animal to eat
monitoring - watching. observing, recording information
preening - when a bird tidies and cleans its feathers with its beak
Activity 2 - Post video task
Task 1 - Data collection
Gather:
a copy of the data table
a pen or pencil (if your copy of the table is printed or drawn on paper)
a timer (like your phone or a watch).
Sit outside if possible, otherwise somewhere near a window in your house.
Set a timer for 15 minutes.
Use the images of the birds to help you identify birds that you see and create a tally mark on the table each time you see one of the bird species.
If you see a bird isn't included in our images of common birds record it in the row labelled Other, recording the name if you know it.
Note: If possible take some photos of the birds that you observe.
Data collection table
You can either:
use the Google Doc to collect your tally marks digitally or by printing it
copy the table (without the images) into your exercise book or folder and complete it there.
Click on the button to open a new tab and view the Google Slides.
Click on the Use Template button to create a copy for you to edit.
Optional activity - Using the Big City Birds app
Watch the video to learn more about the Big City Birds project and how to use the free app.
Install the free app onto your phone.
Record some of the data you collected using the app.
Handing in your work
Don't forget to hand in the work you completed today!
Your teacher will have told you to do one of the following:
Upload any digital documents you created and any photos you took of your written work to your Learning Management system (MS Teams, Google Classroom for example).
Email any digital documents you created and any photos you took of your written work to your teacher.
Make sure you keep any handwritten work you did in your exercise book or folder as your teacher may need to see these when you are back in class.