Backyard Bird Behaviours

Backyard Bird Behaviours

An ethogram is a catalogue or table of all the different kinds of behaviour or activity observed in an animal. Survey for behavioural adaptations of local birds using your own ethogram.

Materials

• Binoculars (if you have them)
• Pencil
• Printout of ethogram

Location

• School grounds
• Your backyard

Instructions

Pick a species of bird observed both at home and at school. Fill out the ethogram (below) for that species, comparing how it behaves at school against how it behaves at home. Compare the behavioural differences between the two environments.
Note: Ensure you observe your species in the morning and spend at least 15 min observing behaviours.

Discussion Questions

1. Compare the behaviours of your bird species between each location.
2. Explain any differences in behaviour.

Ethogram

Ethogram
Name: _________________________                    Bird species: __________________
Date: ______________ Time: _______________   Location: School/Home
Weather: ___________________