Lesson List

Lesson 1: How is it the way it is??

Topic: Introduction to Natural Selection Theme: Organisms with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce.

Lesson 2: Why does the songbird sing??

Topic: Bird Songs vs Calls Theme: A bird species’ song and calls have different characteristics and serve different purposes to enhance survival and reproduction.

Lesson 3: Wait… birds have dance battles??

Topic: Courtship Rituals and Mating Displays Theme: The courtship rituals and mating displays of birds are not only entertaining, but also teach us how natural selection can produce unique behaviors and physical features.

Lesson 4: How does one make a nest??

Topic: Bird Nesting and the Nest Cycle Themes: Nests are important structures for young survival. Nest types and materials vary widely depending on species and habitat.

Lesson 5: How is reproductive success measured??

Topic: MRBO Nest Monitoring Project Themes: One way we can measure reproductive success is by measuring nesting success. We can use long-term nest monitoring data to see how specific factors may increase or decrease nest success.
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Vocabulary

Songs – Tend to be complex, learned, and given principally by males in prolonged bouts in the breeding season to establish a territory and attract a mate.

Calls – Tend to be simple, innate, and used by both sexes in more general contexts, such as to raise an alarm, maintain contact between flock members, or beg for food.

Spectrogram – A computer- generated graph of sound frequencies across time. (or a way to visualize bird sound)

Frequency – The speed of the sound vibration, and this determines the pitch of the sound.

Amplitude – The size of the sound vibration, and this determines how loud the sound is.

Pitch – The quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone.

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