Student Research Page
Come Fly With Me
When birds fly away every year to a particular place for better food, weather or places to nest, we say those birds migrate. Texas is one of the most important locations in the world for migration! Millions of birds travel through Texas in the spring and fall. Many spend the winter here. Texas also attracts birdwatchers from all over the world!
Are We There Yet?
Birds that migrate follow paths called "flyways." Which flyways go through Texas? Look at the flyway maps for hints.
Next, look at the migration routes of several birds that fly through Texas. Of the birds you see, which birds breed in Canada and fly all the way to South America for winter?
Some students actually track migrations! Check out this site: Journey North for Kids: www.learner.org/jnorth/KidsJourneyNorth.html
Just Like Jesse!
Jesse Huth learned how to identify birds when he was 9 years old. How good can you get? Go outside and see how many different birds you can find.
Keeping It Wild!
How can kids help migrating birds? Migrating birds need food, water and shelter.
- Make a birdfeeder!
- Save water for wildlife! Plant native flowers that don't need a lot of water. To help you with plant lists for where you live, try our Learn About Texas kids' pages.
- Build a Birdhouse!
- Keep your cat indoors. Whether they are hungry or not, cats kill native and migratory birds.
- Learn About Texas Birds activity book
- Young Naturalist: Hummingbirds
- Young Naturalist: Bluebirds
Just for Fun
- Be a Bird Brain!
- Nest Cams! To watch birds in their nest, copy and paste this site into your web browser: http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nestcams/camera/index