Counting Birds

Counting Birds

By Mia Lewis

A group of students are at Matagorda Island, part of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. They reached their destination in the morning. They are there for fun and also to do a job. 

Multiple Choice

Where is the setting of the story?

• Mission Beach

• Matagorda

• San Francisco

Multiple Choice

"Students are at Matagorda Island, part of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge." Which statement best describes refuge?

• place that is safe

• place that is dangerous

• place that is hidden

Open Ended

Let's make a prediction. What do you think their job at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge might be?

“You’re going to help us with a bird count,” says Ranger Lucia. “You’ll work in three teams: Red, Green, and Blue,” says Ranger Mark. “Your job is to identify and count different types of birds. Each team will have a bird guide with the names and pictures of many birds.” 

Multiple Choice

What tools do the teams use to help them count birds?

• brooms and rakes

• trash bags

• a bird guide

Multiple Choice

What is their job at the refuge?

• to pick up the animal feces

• to count the birds they see

• to feed the animals

Open Ended

Why do you think the ranger divide them in to two teams.

“There’s a special way to count,” says Lucia. “Only record the highest number of birds you see together at one time. Here’s how it works. Let’s say you see a group of three sparrows. You write that down. Later you see a group of five sparrows. You write that down. Then you see a group of two sparrows. You do not write that down because you have already seen a larger group.”

Multiple Choice

How does the job work?

• Record every bird you see down

• Record every animal you see down

• Record the highest number of birds seen

Multiple Choice

When would you not write down a group of birds you have seen?

• when you have seen them for first time

• when you have seen one bigger

• write every bird you see

Mark added, “Your record book would say Sparrows: 3, 5. High count = 5. Only the 5 goes into the final count. That way you’re sure that you haven’t counted the same birds more than once.” 

Multiple Choice

Why do you only count the highest number as final count?

• to not count same birds twice

• birds are always in groups

• it is easier to do

“Got it?” asks Mark. “Good! Off you go. Meet us back here in one hour.” The three teams spread out to different areas of the park. Joe, Darlene, and Bill are on the Red Team. The first thing they do is sit down with their guidebook.

Multiple Choice

How long do the teams have to count the birds?

• 20 minutes

• 1/2 an hour

• 1 hour

Multiple Choice

What is the first thing the red team does?

• split up to count

• counted birds together

• sat with guidebook

They read the tips with insights about the most effective ways to identify birds using the way they fly and their size, coloring, and songs. “I can help identify the birds,” says Joe. “My parents are bird watchers.” “Great!” says Darlene. “Let’s go.” 

Multiple Choice

Why can Joe help with identifying birds?

• his dad is a bird watcher

• Joe watches birds

• Joe is an expert

Multiple Choice

What did reading the tips with insights do for the team?

• wasted time they had to find the most birds

• taught them best ways to identify birds

• it didn't do anything different for the team

Emma, Josh, and Tia are on the Blue Team. They start out without looking at the guidebook. Pretty soon they see some birds. “Look!” says Emma. “Little yellow birds!” “Does anyone know what they are?” asks Tia. “Not me,” says Josh. “That’s an incredibly bright yellow. Let’s see if we can find them in the book.” “Check this picture,” says Tia. “I think these are American goldfinches.” 

Multiple Choice

What team are Emma, Tia, and Josh on?

• red

• blue

• green

Multiple Choice

What did the blue team do differently than the red team?

• they used the guidebook at the start

• they asked for assistance to find brids

• they skipped the guidebook before looking

The Green Team is walking toward the water. Sam, Beth, and Alec stop when they hear a honking noise. They turn to look and see a huge bird standing in the water. “Wow!” says Alec. “Look at that giant bird! It must be as tall as a person.” “Look in the guidebook,” says Sam. “Let’s see what it is.”

Multiple Choice

How does the text describe the bird the green team saw?

• soft like silk

• white like snow

• tall as a person

Multiple Choice

How did the green team spot the bird in the water?

• the bird was splashing them

• a map of where the birds were at

• the bird was "honking"

“It’s a whooping crane!” says Beth. “I think you’re right,” says Sam. “It’s mostly white like the bird in the picture. It also has the same black and red patch on its head.”

Multiple Choice

How does the image support the main idea of the text?

• it shows the features of the whopping crane

• It explains a whooping crane

• it compares the birds

Multiple Select

What features make the green team think the bird is the whooping crane? (Select all that apply)

• mostly white

• green eyes

• black/red patch on head

“The guide says that whooping cranes stand nearly five feet tall,” says Beth. “They have a wingspan of seven feet.” “They travel in pairs or as a family,” says Sam.

Multiple Choice

How do Whooping Cranes travel?

• alone and separated

• with other birds

• in pairs or with family

Multiple Choice

How does the describe the whooping cranes?

• they are pretty

• they stand 5 ft tall

• their diet

“Look at this,” says Alec, pointing to the page in the book. “They are an endangered species. They are in trouble.” “That’s why refuges like this are required. The cranes need them so that they can make a comeback,” says Beth. “Hey, guys, let’s see if we can find the whole family.” 

Multiple Choice

“That’s why refuges like this are required." Which statement best describes refuges?

• Identification

• money

• shelter

Open Ended

Why do you think animal refuges are important?

Multiple Choice

“They are an endangered species. They are in trouble.” Which statement best described endangered?

• dangerous and harmful

• at risk of extinction

• shy or nervous

Very soon, the hour is up. The teams meet back up with the rangers. “We saw two quails,” says Joe for the Red Team. “We saw five whooping cranes,” says Alec. “The Green Team wins!” 

Multiple Choice

How does the image support the text?

• it shows the winning team

• it shows a quail

• it shows a whooping crane

Multiple Choice

Which team won?

• the blue team

• the red team

• the green team

“Yes,” says Ranger Lucia. “All the information the teams gathered is useful. It will help scientists understand how birds adapt to changes in their environment.” “Good job everyone!” says Ranger Mark. “Come back next year and help us count birds again!” 

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the bird count?

• helps scientists understand bird adaptations

• it is just a fun game for people to play

• it tells how many birds are left in the world

Open Ended

Is the trip to the wildlife refuge a success? Explain.

Multiple Choice

What is the author's purpose?

• inform

• entertain

• persuade