iTunes U for YOU: Ask A Biologist

Objectives

Students will learn:

1. The definition of a dialect and that birds, like humans have different dialects.
2. The different ways birds learn to sing.
3. The anatomy of a bird that allows them to sing.
4. What a sonogram is and how it is used to identify bird songs.
5. How bird recordings are made.
6. How to complete their own bird research and recordings.

Resources

1. Computer with Internet connection.
2. iTunes software. Download free from Apple.
3. External speakers are recommended.
4. LCD projector is recommended.
5. iPods for listening centers recommended.
6. Digital recorder or digital video camera to record bird sounds.

Teacher Preparation

1. Download the Ask A Biologist Bird Sounds podcast.
2. Print the podcast summary and timecodes.
3. Explore the Virtual Aviary on the Ask a Biologist web site.
4. Review "How do birds make noises"

Procedure

Introduction

1. Play the Mystery Animal section from the Ask A Biologist Bird Sound podcast (00:25 - 00:38) for the students and have them guess the animal. Play or tell them the answer and ask how many have ever heard a bird sound like that before.
2. Ask the students if any of them can make a bird sound. Call on students one by one to give the sound and ask them if they know what kind of bird makes the sound.
3. Tell the students that you are going to make a bird sound for them and then show the sonogram for the Western Bluebird. This can be projected or printed. Ask the students if they think this is a bird sound. Play the audio file for the Western blubird and explain that they files both represent the bird's song.
4. Explain the lesson objectives.

Instructional Activites

1. Review the vocabulary with the students using the LCD projector or printing it out.
2. Provide an overview of Dr. DeViche and explain what an avian endicronologist is.
3. Introduce the concept of dialect - ask the students if they have family that live in other parts of the US. Do they use different words than you? Example pop vs. soda vs. coke or dinner vs supper. Explain that birds have dialects too. Listen to the Song Sparrow comparisons section of the Bird Sound podcast (06:14 - 07:10).
4. How do birds sing? Listen to the description of a bird's anatomy from the podcast (20:09 - 21:24). Show the diagram of a Syrinx and explain how this unique organ works. Listen to the portion of the podcast where Professor DeViche describes how birds learn to sing (07:42 - 10:34).
   1. Check for understanding
      1. Do male and female birds sing?
      2. Do all birds sing and call?
      3. How do birds learn how to sing?
5. How can bird songs be recorded? Listen to the type of equipment used to do the recording (14:39). Visit the McCaulay Library for an overview of the professional equipment used to record birds.
6. Take the students on a tour of Dr. Biology's virtual aviary. Have the students compare the bird's dialect and try to match the sonograms with the audiofiles.
7. Review the scientific method with the students.

Student Assignment

1. Find a local bird whose calls and songs you can recognize.
2. Complete research to find the name of the bird.
3. Keep a notebook with records of where and when you hear it.
4. Try and describe the sounds phonetically.
5. Try and draw a sonogram of the sounds.
6. How does the sound relate to the bird's activities?
7. Are there song differences between the male and female of this species?

Extensions

1. Identify a school at a different geographic site within the natural range of your selected bird. Encourage the new site to mirror your own research efforts within their local neighborhood. Determine if there are dialect song differences between your local bird population based on comparing your final results. 
2. Use a video camera to record your bird sounds and then import into the computer. Download Raven Lite and use it to create sonograms from the audio files.
3. Build a stereo microphone and a cardboard parobolic reflector. Visit Greg Kunkel's Bird Songs site for plans and diagrams.
4. Put your students' bird identification skills to the test by participating in The Great Backyard Bird Count. The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent.