Build A Crow's Nest - Science World

Objectives

• List the survival needs of common backyard species and discover how crows build nests.

Materials

• Per Group: outdoor space (preferably) with twigs spread on the ground pieces of twine and scrap cloth

Key Questions

• Have you seen a nest before? Where and what was it made of?
• How do birds find resources to construct nests? What types of materials might they use?
• Is it easy to make a solid structure from the twigs?
• What materials worked best? What materials did not work?

What To Do

1. Collect materials found on the ground outside. Things to look for are small twigs, pieces of plants, moss, twine and cloth.
2. Group students into crow families- usually this would be 10 or fewer “birds”.
3. In “Crow Family” groups (10 or smaller), have students cooperate to weave the twigs and other pieces together in a messy nest. Aim to have it actual crow sized, not student sized.
4. Next, have the students make a small bowl-like area in the middle of the nest where the softer materials can be placed.
5. Have students show each other their nests. Have them discuss what materials they used and the difficulty of building a nest. Discuss what worked, and what did not.

Teacher Tip: Collect a box of potential materials beforehand and be prepared to “seed” the site for searching student “crows”, especially for younger students or on a barren school yard.

Extensions

• What materials choices might be effected by the "tools" the crows have to work with? How is this different than human hands?
• Play a game of capture the flag with each team having 4 or more “flags.” The “flags” are materials that you will use for building your nest. Capture all the materials for your nest to win.

Other Resources

The Cornell Lab| All About Birds | Crows