Naturalist Journal:Birds and Squirrels due- _____
As we move forward with this Naturalist Journal remember that you are observing NATURE. Most entries ask that you find or observe something OUTSIDE.
Naturalist -a person who studies natural history, a person who studies nature, especially by direct observation of animals and plants.
Keep the definition of a Naturalist in mind as you do the rest of the entries this year.
Be sure to give each page a title or heading (they are underlined and in bold). You are required to continue to use the same journal. So keep track of it!
Bird Feeder:
Make at least one of the feedersexactly as describedon
Fill your feeder and hang or attach somewhereoutside in a location where it is easy to observe. Attachment is essential or squirrels will take it! Have a parent or friend take a photo of you with your feederoutside where you placed it for the birds.
Put this photo in your journal. Describe how the feeder was made and the food you put in it (be specific, so for example, don’t write seeds but write what type of seeds. Observe your feeder regularly. Make a note in your journal of the birds you see there. Record a description of the bird and try to identify Ifyou don’t see any birds, then do some research and name 4 birds that live in the area that eat what you have in your feeder.Place a picture of each of these 4 species of birds in your journal with their common name underneath.
Common Virginia BirdsSome birds prefer a certain type of seed. Find a picture on the internet of each of the birds listed below. Mount each (color) picture in your journal and underneath each, write the common name, scientific name, and the type of seeds that they prefer. These are common Virginia birds that you may see at your feeder in the winter.
Common Names
Cardinals
Blue Jays
Chickadees
Purple Finch
More Birds of Virginia
Similarly to the Common Virginia Birds entry, find photos of each bird below on the internet. Below each (color) picture in your journal write the common and scientific name,the type of food they eat. At the bottom of the page explain why you would NOT expect to find these birds at your bird feeder even though they live in this area.
Robin
Cooper’s Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Pileated Woodpecker
Squirrels
Go to the website below and read all the information on the squirrels common to Virginia.
Copy one photo of a squirrel from that site, print it, and mount it in your journal. Label the photo with the common and scientific name for this animal.
Print out a picture from internet of a squirrel nest.Underneath the photo, write where they can be seen and what they are typically made of.
Underneath these two pictures make a list of 8 things that are interesting about squirrels.
RUBRIC name- ______
Use this rubric AND the written instructions to be sure you are meeting all requirements.
______Same journal (2pt)
______Headings on each page (2pt)
BIRD FEEDER
_____ bird feeder made following requirements and written description (2)
_____clear, color photo of student with feeder(full of food) in outside location (5pts)
____ description of birds at your feeder (4 pts) (or 4 bird pictures and names, that should have been there )
COMMON VIRGINIA BIRDS
_____ Bird picture, common name, scientific name, seed preference(8 pts)
__Cardinal __Chickadee __Blue jay__Purple finch
MORE BIRDS OF VIRGINIA
____Picture, common name, scientific name, food (8 pts)
___Robin ___ Cooper’s Hawk __Pileated Woodpecker __Great blue heron
____ Explanation, in complete sentences, why these would typically not be found at a feeder(2pt)
SQUIRRELS
______copy/print of squirrel photo from website, scientific name and common name (2pts)
______Picture of squirrel nest in a tree, indicate where the nest is by arrow or label (2pts)
______description of where nests are found and what they are made of (2)
______list of 8 interesting things about squirrels (4pts)
______effort, neatness, spelling, etc (2)
______this rubric checked off and turned in (2)
Total= ______/47
Extra credit (1-5pts) for photos you took of birds at the feeder you made! Glue these photos in your journal on the Bird Feeder page.