Bird Call Activity

Created by Angela Kroon (GK12 Fellow, WSU-Vancouver, 2012) and Charlene Shea (7th grade teacher, Gaiser Middle School)

Observation as practiced by scientists

Many insects eat plants

Many birds eat insects

How many and what kinds of birds are on Mount St. Helens?

Source: PRBO.org

Questions to ask yourself when making birdcall observations:

• What does the call sound like? Could you put words to the call?

• Is it short or long? How many seconds• How often does it repeat the call?• Is it a harsh sound? Soft? Buzzy? Sharp?

Source: Cornell University, Department of Ornithology

“Sweet-Sweet-Sweet-Sweet-I’m-so-sweet”

Yellow Warbler

Typical Sound:

Source: Cornell University, Department of Ornithology

Willow Fly-catcher

Typical Sound: “Fitz-bew” “Whit”

White-Crowned Sparrow

Source: Cornell University, Department of Ornithology, Jim Ellis

Typical Voice: “See me, pretty, pretty me”

Rufous Hummingbird

Typical Voice:“Zeee, Zeee, Zeee-Chuppity-Chuppity-Chup”

Source: Cornell University, Department of Ornithology

Song Sparrow

Typical Sound:3 or 4 short clear notes, buzzy tow-wee, trillSource: Cornell University, Department of

Ornithology

Source: Cornell University, Department of Ornithology

Dark-Eyed Junco

Typical Sound:7-23 even notes

Common Raven

Typical Sound:“Cr-r-uck”

Source: Cornell University, Department of Ornithology

Source: Cornell University, Department of Ornithology, Marie Read

Horned Lark

Typical Sound:musical tinkling