Bird cards Duration: 15 min Target group: all grades Where: Indoors When: At all times of the year Materials: Bird cards (print out and cut) Section of wilderness passport: Game management Learning objectives: Identify game birds occurring in and learn about their habits INSTRUCTIONS In this exercise, students learn to identify 18 species of birds classified as game birds out of a total of 26 game bird species in. For some of the species, both s and fes are presented, while only one of the genders is presented in other cases. If the and fe plumage differ greatly and only one is pictured on the bird cards, the card will specify the gender. If there are no noticeable differences between the appearance of the genders, this is not mentioned. You can print out five different kinds of cards, which can be used in many ways: a) only the names of the birds b) only pictures of birds c) the pictures and names of the birds d) identification and lifestyle information on the birds e) identification and lifestyle information on the birds without the species' names. Please note that you should print out only the pages you need. You may want to print out the picture cards and text cards double-sided. When printed on A4-sized paper, the text is quite small, so you may want to enlarge the prints to A3. Instructions for three different species identification games are given below. Choose the most suitable one or create your own way of using the bird cards! Memory game Print the cards (options a & b, b & c, c & d OR c & e) ONE-SIDED, preferably on strong paper in colour. Cut the sheets into single cards. Place the cards face down on the table. Alternately, each player flips two cards over. If the cards make a pair, the person who turned them may place them in front of him or her. The next player will then take his or her turn. The winner is the one with the most pairs when all of the cards have been turned. If you play the memory game with cards that do not display the name of the species the correct answers (options c and d) should also be printed out for checking.
Identification game A Print the identification and lifestyle information, without names (option e), on the rear side of the bird + name (option c) pictures. Print DOUBLE-SIDED. Cut the sheets into single cards and deal them out to the pairs. The pairs should stack their cards with the picture side facing down. On the basis of identification information, the pairs should now alternately guess which bird is in question. After the guessing round, the cards are turned over. If a guess was correct, the guesser gets the card (and one point). The winner is the one who identifies the most species. The cards can also be divided in half between the two members of the pair. One should read the information while the other guesses. When the guess is correct, the bird in question is shown. Identification game B Print the identification and lifestyle information (option d) on the rear side of the anonymous bird pictures (option b). Print DOUBLE-SIDED. Cut the sheets into single cards and deal them out to the pairs. The pair should place the stack of cards in front of them, face up. Both may guess the name of the species, the food source and the range of occurrence. The one whose guesses come closest or knows more about the species gets the card, and one point. The correct answers can be checked on the back of the card. The winner is the one with the most cards when all of the cards in the stack have been used. Links Bird identification, a virtual bird atlas : http://www.luontoportti.com/suomi/en/linnut/ Videos and photos for the identification of birds (in Finnish): http://riista.fi/julkaisut/lajintunnistusmateriaalit/ Bird identification game (in Finnish): http://www.peliplaza.fi/fi/birdlife_linnuntunnistus
Topics to think about 1. The and fe of some bird species look different. What kinds of differences can you spot between s and fes? a) How does brownish plumage benefit the fes? - Fes blend in better with the surroundings and predators are unable spot them easily, for example during the breeding season. b) Why is the bird of some species more colourful than the fe? - When in good condition, the 's bright plumage is a sign of vitality. Fe birds prefer to mate with a that is in good condition. A colourful plumage is particularly important for species that do not mate for life, but find a new partner every spring. 2. What are migratory birds? Why do some birds migrate up to thousands of kilometres every autumn and spring? - Migratory birds typically nest near the polar regions, like here in, and migrate to the equatorial regions for the winter. Migration makes sense, because the struggle for territory and food would be too difficult in the zone of eternal summer. In the north, there is less competition in the summer: there are enough insects for insectivores, plant parts for herbivores and ice-free waters for piscivores. The Arctic tern, which nests close to the Arctic Circle but migrates to the Antarctica region when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, makes the longest migratory journey. Some birds that nest in migrate over considerably shorter distances by flying to the south coast of the Baltic Sea for winter. 3. Why is the mere colour of plumage not a good identifier for all species? - Some birds may have four differently coloured plumages during the year (e.g. willow grouse and shoveler). In addition, young birds are often different from adults. When identifying species, you should also pay attention to the calls of the birds, the shapes of their bodies, wings and heads, as well as their behaviour and the way they fly. 4. What kinds of strategies do the sedentary bird species (species that do not seasonally migrate over long distances) included on the bird cards use to survive the winter? - Their plumage turns white and acts as camouflage against predators. - Their legs are covered with warm feathers that make it easier to walk on snow. - A thick layer of fat protects them against the cold. - During the severest cold spells, willow grouse and ptarmigan can burrow into the snow for shelter. Snow acts as insulation against the cold. The birds feed on the nutrition available even during severe frosts, including the twigs of trees and bushes, or pine needles (capercaillie).
CAPERCAILLIE HAZEL GROUSE TEAL MALLARD fe SHOVELER GOLDENEYE WILLOW GROUSE GREYLAG GOOSE MALLARD PHEASANT COOT EIDER WOOD PIGEON PTARMIGAN CANADA GOOSE WOODCOCK EIDER fe BEAN GOOSE PINTAIL RED-BREASTED MERGANSER OPTION a
Pictures: Wikimedia Commons, Markku Pirttimaa, Metsähallitus OPTION b
MALLARD, fe TEAL, HAZEL GROUSE CAPERCAILLIE, GREYLAG GOOSE WILLOW GROUSE GOLDENEYE SHOVELER EIDER, COOT PHEASANT, MALLARD, WOODCOCK CANADA GOOSE PTARMIGAN WOOD PIGEON RED-BREASTED MERGANSER PINTAIL BEAN GOOSE EIDER, fe OPTION c Pictures: Wikimedia Commons, Markku Pirttimaa, Metsähallitus
CAPERCAILLIE Tetrao urogallus Distribution: Extensive forests with variable habitats Size: about 4 kg Food: shoots, buds, seeds, berries and in winter pine needles Appearance: Male dark in coloring, tail large. Red eyebrow in the top of the eye. Fe is brown and smaller than. Capercaillie is sedentary (does not migrate during the winter). HAZEL GROUSE Tetrastes bonasia Distribution: Dense forest habitats, especially spruce stands Size: 250 450 g Food: shoots, buds, catkins and berries Appearance: Small and round head. Male has a little tuft in head. Plumage with brown, grey, white and black markings. Males have black bibs. Legs are covered with feathers. Sedentary. TEAL Anas crecca in open waters and wetlands Size: 270 330 g, plants Appearance: Males in breeding plumage have bright brown heads with a metallic green patch. Fes are brownish. Teal is one of the smallest duck species. Migratory bird. MALLARD, fe Anas platyrhynchos Appearance: Both and fe have blue wing panel. Fes have brown plumage with darker patterning. Mallard is a dabbling duck. It is the most common duck in. Migratory bird but some may overwinter in cities. SHOVELER Anas clypeata Distribution: Shallow, nutrient rich waters in Central and Southern Size: 490 740 g, plants Appearance: Large shovel-like bill. Males in breeding plumage are very colorful with dark-green heads. Fes are brown with darker patterning. GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula Appearance: Head appear somewhat triangular and irises are golden yellow. Male in breeding plumage is mainly black and white, and their heads have a single large spot beneath eye. Fes heads are dark brown and bodies greyish. WILLOW GROUSE Lagopus lagopus Distribution: Marshy areas and fellsides, almost disappeared from Southern Size: 500 800 g Food: shoots, buds, leaves and berries Appearance: Males have four different plumages and fes have three. In winter both are mainly white. Sedentary bird. GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser Distribution: Nests on Baltic islands and seashores Size: 3 4 kg Food: Mainly grass, sometimes feeds on algae Appearance: A beak is pinkish orange and legs are pink in adult bird. Feathers are grey. Migratory bird. MALLARD, Anas platyrhynchos Appearance: Both and fe have blue wing panel. Males in breeding plumage have metallic green head and a white ring around neck. Mallard is a dabbling duck. It is the most common duck in. Migratory bird but some may overwinter in cities. PHEASANT Phasianus colchius Distribution: In farmlands and parklands, suburban areas. Introduced in in 1901 Size: about 1kg Food: seeds, grain, invertebrates Appearance: Males have colorful plumage with red eye patch and metallic green head. Fes are yellowish brown. Both sexes have long tail. Males legs have sharp spurs. Sedentary bird. COOT Fulica atra Distribution: Mainly Southern and Central Size: 600 1200 g, aquatic plants Appearance: Body is stocky, rounded and almost black except the white forehead shield and beak. Mature coots have red irises. EIDER, Somateria mollissima s coastal areas Size: 1200 2600 g Food: mainly mussels Appearance: Males in breeding plumage have white back and dark underparts, tail and wing feathers and black cap. Autumn plumage is mainly dark brown. WOOD PIGEON Columba palumbus except the northernmost part. Size: 400 600 g Food: seeds, grain, pulses Appearance: Coloring is pale bluish grey and mature birds have white neck marking. Legs are red and beaks are yellow. PTARMIGAN Lagopus muta Distribution: Fells in Northern Lapland Size: 450 600 g Food: buds, shoots and leaves Appearance: Plumage changes seasonally. In winter they are almost totally white. Summer plumage is greyer than Willow Grouse s plumage. Legs are covered with feathers. Sedentary bird. CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis Distribution: All waters throughout. Introduced in the 1960s Size: 2 6 kg Food: mainly different sort of plants Appearance: Head and neck are black. White patch on cheek and throat. Otherwise body is brownish. Canada goose is the largest goose in. WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola Distribution: Moist forests in Central and Southern, more scarcely in Oulu and Kainuu Size: 225 370 g Appearance: Plumage is reddish brown with black and white mottled markings. Beak is strikingly long. EIDER, fe Somateria mollissima s coastal areas Size: 1200 2600 g Food: mainly mussels Appearance: Fes are mottled brown. Eider s head is large and wedge-shaped. Fes and juveniles have elongated wedges of brown feathers on the sides of their beaks. BEAN GOOSE Anser fabalis Distribution: Breeds in northern regions and bogs in Central Size: 1,2 2,6 kg Food: water and shore plants Appearance: Feathers are grey and back is black. Beak is mainly orange with a black tip. Legs are yellowish orange. PINTAIL Anas acuta Distribution: Densities greatest in northern regions, breeds near marshy shores in wetlands Size: 900 1100 g Food: plants and invertebrates Appearance: Pintails have long necks and elongated tail. Males in breeding plumage have brown head and white neck and breast. Fe is brown and grey. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mercus serrator Distribution: Breeds around nutrientpoor waters throughout Size: 225 370 g Food: fish and invertebrates Appearance: Fes are brownish. Males have colorful plumage with black, white and brown. Both have crests on the back of the head and white patches on wings. OPTION d
Tetrao urogallus Distribution: Extensive forests with variable habitats Size: about 4 kg Food: shoots, buds, seeds, berries and in winter pine needles Appearance: Male dark in coloring, tale large. Red eyebrow in the top of the eye. Fe is brown and smaller than. Capercaillie is sedentary (does not migrate during the winter). Tetrastes bonasia Distribution: Dense forest habitats, especially spruce stands Size: 250 450 g Food: shoots, buds, catkins and berries Appearance: Small and round head. Male has a little tuft in head. Plumage with brown, grey, white and black markings. Males have black bibs. Legs are covered with feathers. Sedentary. Anas crecca in open waters and wetlands Size: 270 330 g, plants Appearance: Males in breeding plumage have bright brown heads with a metallic green patch. Fes are brownish. Teal is one of the smallest duck species. Migratory bird. Anas platyrhynchos Appearance: Both and fe have blue wing panel. Fes have brown plumage with darker patterning. Mallard is a dabbling duck. It is the most common duck in. Migratory bird but some may overwinter in cities. Anas clypeata Distribution: Shallow, nutrient rich waters in Central and Southern Size: 490 740 g, plants Appearance: Large shovel-like bill. Males in breeding plumage are very colorful with dark-green heads. Fes are brown with darker patterning. Bucephala clangula Appearance: Head appear somewhat triangular and irises are golden yellow. Male in breeding plumage is mainly black and white, and their heads have a single large spot beneath eye. Fes heads are dark brown and bodies greyish. Lagopus lagopus Distribution: Marshy areas and fellsides, almost disappeared from Southern Size: 500 800 g Food: shoots, buds, leaves and berries Appearance: Males have four different plumages and fes have three. In winter both are mainly white. Sedentary bird. Anser anser Distribution: Nests on Baltic islands and seashores Size: 3 4 kg Food: Mainly grass, sometimes feeds on algae Appearance: A beak is pinkish orange and legs are pink in adult bird. Feathers are grey. Migratory bird. Anas platyrhynchos Appearance: Both and fe have blue wing panel. Males in breeding plumage have metallic green head and a white ring around neck. Mallard is a dabbling duck. It is the most common duck in. Migratory bird but some may overwinter in cities. Phasianus colchius Distribution: In farmlands and parklands, suburban areas. Introduced in in 1901 Size: about 1kg Food: seeds, grain, invertebrates Appearance: Males have colorful plumage with red eye patch and metallic green head. Fes are yellowish brown. Both sexes have long tail. Males legs have sharp spurs. Sedentary bird. Fulica atra Distribution: Mainly Southern and Central Size: 600 1200 g, aquatic plants Appearance: Body is stocky, rounded and almost black except the white forehead shield and beak. Mature coots have red irises. Somateria mollissima s coastal areas Size: 1200 2600 g Food: mainly mussels Appearance: Males in breeding plumage have white back and dark underparts, tail and wing feathers and black cap. Autumn plumage is mainly dark brown. Columba palumbus except the northernmost part. Size: 400 600 g Food: seeds, grain, pulses Appearance: Coloring is pale bluish grey and mature birds have white neck marking. Legs are red and beaks are yellow. Lagopus muta Distribution: Fells in Northern Lapland Size: 450 600 g Food: buds, shoots and leaves Appearance: Plumage changes seasonally. In winter they are almost totally white. Summer plumage is greyer than Willow Grouse s plumage. Legs are covered with feathers. Sedentary bird. Branta canadensis Distribution: All waters throughout. Introduced in the 1960s Size: 2 6 kg Food: mainly different sort of plants Appearance: Head and neck are black. White patch on cheek and throat. Otherwise body is brownish. Canada goose is the largest goose in. Scolopax rusticola Distribution: Moist forests in Central and Southern, more scarcely in Oulu and Kainuu Size: 225 370 g Appearance: Plumage is reddish brown with black and white mottled markings. Beak is strikingly long. Somateria mollissima s coastal areas Size: 1200 2600 g Food: mainly mussels Appearance: Fes are mottled brown. Eider s head is large and wedge-shaped. Fes and juveniles have elongated wedges of brown feathers on the sides of their beaks. Anser fabalis Distribution: Breeds in northern regions and bogs in Central Size: 1,2 2,6 kg Food: water and shore plants Appearance: Feathers are grey and back is black. Beak is mainly orange with a black tip. Legs are yellowish orange. Anas acuta Distribution: Densities greatest in northern regions, breeds near marshy shores an in wetlands Size: 900 1100 g Food: plants and invertebrates Appearance: Pintails have long necks and elongated tail. Males in breeding plumage have brown head and white neck and breast. Fe is brown and grey. Mercus serrator Distribution: Breeds around nutrientpoor waters throughout Size: 225 370 g Food: fish and invertebrates Appearance: Fes are brownish. Males have colorful plumage with black, white and brown. Both have crests on the back of the head and white patches on wings. OPTION e