Backyard Birding Challenge Duration: One year from your start
Bird Set 1:
1. American Robin - Male and female Robins are very similar in appearance. Though known for being worm eaters, robins have varied diets. American Robins mostly eat fruits in the fall and winter, and include more insects and worms in their spring and summer diets. You can occasionally spot tipsy robins in the late winter and early spring, thanks to fermented berries they have devoured. a. Read a book with twins in it. b. Read a book with a tipsy character. c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of A and R (in either order). d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters ROBIN in it.
2. Downy Woodpecker - These are the smallest North American woodpeckers. The male has a distinctive red spot on the back of the head. Their diet is largely insects, but you will also see them at suet feeders in your backyard. a. Read a book with a red spot on the cover. b. Read a book that mentions a something made with down - a comforter, pillow, jacket, etc. c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of D and W (in either order). d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters DOWNY in it.
3. American Goldfinch – This is the only finch that molts twice a year. In summer, males are a vivid yellow with a black cap and black wings. Females are a duller yellow and lack the black cap. They often feed on small-seeded plants like thistles. a. Read a book whose cover has bright yellow and black on it. b. Read a book where a character changes clothes more than once. c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of A and G (in either order). d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters FINCH in it.
4. House Sparrow – This bird did not exist in North America until 1851, when it was imported from Europe to combat a linden moth caterpillar infestation in New York City. It can now be found on every continent except Antarctica and is considered to be a pest species. It is not related to any other American sparrow species. a. Read a book about a migrant or migrants. b. Read a book with a MC who is a pest (your interpretation). c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of H and S (in either order). d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters SPARROW in it.
5. American Crow –These birds are incredibly clever, with the largest brain-to-body ratio of any bird. They not only use tools but also make them. They hold funerals for their dead. They can solve a metatool problem where each step was out of sight of the others, planning ahead three behaviors into the future. Populations of crows have different dialects, which a new crow will learn if it joins the flock. a. Read a book where the MC is very good at solving problems. b. Read a book where the MC learns a language other than their native one. c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of A and C (in either order). d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters CROW in it.
Backyard Birding Challenge
Duration: One year from your start
Bird Set 1:
1. American Robin - Male and female Robins are very similar in appearance. Though known for being worm eaters, robins have varied diets. American Robins mostly eat fruits in the fall and winter, and include more insects and worms in their spring and summer diets. You can occasionally spot tipsy robins in the late winter and early spring, thanks to fermented berries they have devoured.
a. Read a book with twins in it.
b. Read a book with a tipsy character.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of A and R (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters ROBIN in it.
2. Downy Woodpecker - These are the smallest North American woodpeckers. The male has a distinctive red spot on the back of the head. Their diet is largely insects, but you will also see them at suet feeders in your backyard.
a. Read a book with a red spot on the cover.
b. Read a book that mentions a something made with down - a comforter, pillow, jacket, etc.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of D and W (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters DOWNY in it.
3. American Goldfinch – This is the only finch that molts twice a year. In summer, males are a vivid yellow with a black cap and black wings. Females are a duller yellow and lack the black cap. They often feed on small-seeded plants like thistles.
a. Read a book whose cover has bright yellow and black on it.
b. Read a book where a character changes clothes more than once.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of A and G (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters FINCH in it.
4. House Sparrow – This bird did not exist in North America until 1851, when it was imported from Europe to combat a linden moth caterpillar infestation in New York City. It can now be found on every continent except Antarctica and is considered to be a pest species. It is not related to any other American sparrow species.
a. Read a book about a migrant or migrants.
b. Read a book with a MC who is a pest (your interpretation).
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of H and S (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters SPARROW in it.
5. American Crow –These birds are incredibly clever, with the largest brain-to-body ratio of any bird. They not only use tools but also make them. They hold funerals for their dead. They can solve a metatool problem where each step was out of sight of the others, planning ahead three behaviors into the future. Populations of crows have different dialects, which a new crow will learn if it joins the flock.
a. Read a book where the MC is very good at solving problems.
b. Read a book where the MC learns a language other than their native one.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of A and C (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters CROW in it.