Send a Songbird

Send a Songbird
to the Neotropics

Lesson # 4 Preparing for the Trip

Background
There are fascinating similarities and differences between human travel & bird migration. Your bird will travel to the neotropics with a built-in survival kit. Explore the parallels between those things needed for human travel and the counterparts birds need to survive their journey.

Important Note to Teachers:
The fun and learning value of this activity come from the students discovering these analogies on their own. Therefore, do not give them the chart below--let them create it over time.

Activity
A. Have students brainstorm about the similarities and differences between bird migration and human travel. In your discussion, ask questions that spark comparisons such as:

How we each find our way?
How we find food in an unfamiliar area?
What do we use for fuel?
What things we need to bring? (Have you ever traveled without a suitcase?)
Are people or birds able to anticipate conditions ahead? How?
Have your parents ever let you travel alone? Why or why not?
What is the purpose behind bird and human trips?

B. Record the analogies on a flip chart. Try and keep it available to students over a period of time (even all year) so they can add to it.

Here is an example of a chart your class might develop:
Human Travel Bird Migration

Printed Map Mental Map

Compass Magnetite in brain

Road signs Star map

Learned route... Instinct guides way

Gasoline fuel Fatty tissue fuel

Suitcases full Go without packing

Parents lead the way Young travel alone

Rest areas Staging/ Stopover sites

Passport required Crosses borders freely

Weather reports Internal barometer

Food available 24 hours .... Must find or starve

Clocks, digital watches Internal clock

Travel in almost any weather Waits for safe conditions

Bring money Never heard of it!

**Here is an example of a chart your class might develop:**
Human Travel	Bird Migration
Printed Map	Mental Map
Compass	Magnetite in brain
Road signs	Star map
Learned route...	Instinct guides way
Gasoline fuel	Fatty tissue fuel
Suitcases full	Go without packing
Parents lead the way	Young travel alone
Rest areas	Staging/ Stopover sites
Passport required	Crosses borders freely
Weather reports	Internal barometer
Food available 24 hours ....	Must find or starve
Clocks, digital watches	Internal clock
Travel in almost any weather	Waits for safe conditions
Bring money	Never heard of it!

C. (Optional) Make items for your survival kit that represent these parallels. See the lesson, # 8: Creating Your Baby Bird and its Survival Kit

Discussion
1. There are many stories about dogs or cats finding their way over long distances to return home. Share the stories you may have heard. What aspects of these animals' behavior surprises you the most?

2. As a class, make up a story about some kids traveling 3,000 miles to a foreign country with nothing but the clothes on their backs. How resourceful would they need to be to survive?

3. What are some advantages that birds have that humans might envy? If birds could think it through, what are some advantages that humans have that birds might envy?