Wings



OUR WINGED FRIENDSIntroductionDear viewers, we see many birds like crow, parrot, cock, hen, myna and so on all around us, and we are familiar with them: like their habitats etc. In English some of the authors such as nature poets called birds are our winged friends. These are considered very important because they are pollenate the seeds and help to growth trees.Dr. Salim Ali, he Birdman of India, is one of the world’s most famous ornithologists. He made many discoveries about Indian birds and wrote the book “The Book of Indian Birds”, which has become a classic. He also fought for the conservation of many important forest including the Bharatpur Bird sanctuary in Rajasthan and silent Valley in Kerala.Birds’ definitionBirds form a class of animals that includes over 10,000 species worldwide (Clements 2007). These species were traditionally divided into 30 orders (Peters et al. 1931–1987) but more recent lists (in part based on molecular studies) group birds into 23 to 40 orders (Clement 2007, Gill and Donsker 2012).?Passeriformes, commonly called perching birds or songbirds, are the most diverse order.Birds range in size from the Small Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) to the large flightless Ostrich (Struthio camelus). Compared to mammals, which range in size from shrews to the blue whale, birds that fly have a restricted size range. This restriction is imposed by the mechanical constraints of flight: the larger the bird the more muscular energy needed to stay airborne. Flightless birds have no such limit. Some extinct flightless birds, such as?Dairymaid gigantean, were 7 feet tall, and the giant carnivorous ground birds of South America, the phororhacids, were also large.Characteristics of Birds4348090808000Birds compose a diverse class (Aves) of species, as dissimilar as tiny darting hummingbirds and 8-foot flightless ostriches, with about 9,000 living species known. Generally accepted to have evolved from reptilian dinosaurs, birds share several characteristics with other classes of animals, including a skeletal backbone housing a spinal cord, a four-chambered heart and warm bloodedness. Other of birds' characteristics are unique or essentially unique.Feathers Feathers are the defining characteristic of Aves, found on every living species of bird and no other class of animal. Feathers are made of keratin, the same substance that forms hair and nails in other animals and are highly modified scales. Feathers are critical not only for flight but also for warmth and protection against the elements -- and in many species, for males to attract mates. Soft, fluffy downy feathers help keep birds warm, contour feathers streamline birds’ bodies and aid in flying, and flight feathers on wings and tail give the bird loft. Birds shed, or molt, old feathers once or twice each year, depending on the species.WingsAll birds have wings, although not all birds fly. Nor are wings confined to Aves; bats are flying mammals and most insects have wings. Birds' bodies are beautifully designed for flight, with strong chest muscles and just enough curve to their wings to provide lift. Differences in wing shape provide different advantages to the various bird species. The narrow, sharp-tipped wings of the falcon provide speed; albatrosses soar high on wings much longer than they are wide. Most songbirds have elliptical, evenly shaped wings that facilitate quick, small movements in the tight spaces of their tree homes. Swimming birds, such as penguins and puffins, have flipper-shaped wings that propel them rapidly and gracefully through water.BeakAll birds have beaks, or bills, made of a bony core surrounded by a thin layer of keratin. Birds do not have true teeth, but many species have tomia -- sharp ridges along the edges of their beaks. Birds do not chew food but grind or rip it into pieces small enough to swallow. The shape of a bird's beak indicates the bird's general diet. Meat-eaters like hawks and owls have sharp, hooked beaks for ripping and tearing. Strong, cone-shaped beaks help seed eaters break through shells. Ducks and geese have broad, flat beaks for straining food out of the water.EggsAll birds lay eggs, some very colourful or covered with spots. Eggs are not unique to birds, of course, as fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects also lay eggs. A bird egg has a hard shell made mostly of calcium and a layer of hardened mucus. Inside the egg, the developing embryo receives nutrition from the yolk and the albumin, the egg white. Most birds construct nests to protect their eggs, and then care for the eggs and the hatchlings. The majority of bird species are devoted parents; in most cases, both male and female care for young.Skeleton Most birds have lightweight skeletons with hollow bones. This keeps them light enough for flight. Many fused bones, including the collarbones or wishbones, make birds’ skeletons rigid in comparison to mammals'. This helps brace the birds' wings during flight. Their sternums, or breastbones, are large, providing sturdy attachment points for powerful wing muscles. Flightless penguins have heavy bones filled with marrow, helping them to survive in their freezing home range. Ostriches have heavy, solid bones in their legs, helping the birds run and defend themselves with powerful kicks.Natural Habitats of BirdsDifferent species of birds suit different types of natural habitat. Although there is much overlap in the resources that different habitats provide (e.g. insect food), some habitats are rich in certain resources. For example, heathlands are often rich in plant species belonging to the family Proteaceae, which tend to have bird-pollinated flowers that are rich in nectar. Heathlands are therefore good places to see honeyeaters. Plants of rainforests often produce fleshy fruits and berries. Rainforests are therefore good places to find fruit-eating pigeons.Some bird habitatsHeathland-86020091000Heathlands usually occur on infertile soils. Around Sydney, they are primarily found near the coast where they are subject to wind and salt spray. Heathlands do not support tall trees: most heathland plants are less than two metres tall. Heathlands are very dense habitats and because most heathland plants are hard-leaved, they form a prickly structure that provides good shelter for small birds. Many heathland plants (e.g. banksias) belong to the plant family .Proteaceae, and the flowers of these species are often rich in nectar. Honeyeaters are usually a conspicuous group in heathland habitats.Woodland5460570695500Woodlands are a habitat type dominated by trees, but with a relatively low canopy cover of less than 30%. Eucalypts dominate the canopy and the understorey is relatively open, often containing native grasses. In the Sydney Basin, woodlands used to be common in the western parts which have more fertile soils. However, most of this habitat type has now been cleared, first for farmland, and more recently for housing. This pattern of land-use is common Australia-wide, and birds that naturally occur in woodlands are the most threatened in Australia.Forestleft720000Forests are a habitat dominated by trees, with a canopy cover of between 30 % and 50 %. There are two main types of forest in Australia, both of which are dominated by eucalypts.?Wet-sclerophyll?forests have a canopy that is taller than 30 metres and generally have a soft-leaved understorey, often including tree ferns.?Dry-sclerophyll?forests have a canopy between 10 metres and 30 metres tall, and generally have a hard-leaved understorey with wattles, peas and boronias.RainforestRainforests grow on deeper, more fertile soils with moister soil conditions. They have a canopy greater than 30 m in height which is relatively closed (greater than 70 % canopy cover). Rainforests around Sydney often include some eucalypts in the canopy but also have species such as figs, red cedar and cabbage-tree palms. Many rainforest plants produce fleshy-fruits and berries, which are a valuable food resource for a range of bird species, but particularly parrots and pigeons.WetlandWetlands are low lying areas that are at least periodically inundated with water. There are both freshwater and saline wetlands around Sydney that provide habitat for a range of species that are not present in other habitats.CoastalCoastal habitats include beaches, headlands, estuaries and rock platforms that are home to many species of sea bird in Australia.FlightBirds, like?insects,?reptiles?(pterosaurs), and?mammals?(bats) have evolved the capability for flight. Most species fly, though a few, mostly island species, are flightless. Most small birds are flappers. Unlike aircraft that have fixed wings, these birds have moveable wings powered by muscles. Some birds, soaring birds like the albatross, can fly using fixed wings and air currents as a source of power (though they still have to flap their wings to get airborne). Many birds migrate. Because of low winter temperatures over large areas of Asia, northern Europe, and North America, there are relatively few birds that are permanent inhabitants. But during the summer months, hundreds of millions of birds from southern temperate and tropical areas migrate north. These travellers typically breed in one place and spend the winter in another, sometimes traveling thousands of kilometres to get back and forth. The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) spends its summers in the arctic and winters in the Antarctic.Indian BirdsIndia is one of the best places in the world to see the birds. India has more than 1250 birds’ species residing in various parts of the country. From the mighty Himalayas to the serene Backwards of Kerala and from Gujarat to the North eastern part of India, all of India has rich source of bird species. Indian wildlife has its fair share of native birds along with the migratory birds. Several hundred species of birds can be spotted across the Indian subcontinent. Most Common City Birds of IndiaBird watching in India is one of the most pleasurable experience, Apart from the?bird parks and sanctuaries?one can also spot variety of birds around the city and villages. Some common birds of around the house are Indian sparrow, Rock Pigeon, Common white Crane and Indian Myna. Into the forest area or around the?beautiful villages?of India one can also spot wild dove, Pied Kingfisher, Spotted Owlet, Saker falcon and the Yellow-footed Green Pigeon. Some of the common city birds now also falls in the category of endangered species of birds due to loss of habitat and pollution.The Sunbirds377280010108000The beautiful and very small passerine birds is distributed throughout the Indian Subcontinent. There are 132 species of Sunbird found across the India and like other small birds they also feed mainly on nectar also take insects and spiders.Rose Ringed Parrot47263059906000The beautiful Ring necked Parakeet is native to the Asian and spread up to large range of Afro-Asian. Indian Ring-Necked Parrot are popular as pets in India and in the wild usually feed on buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and seeds.-18415046228000Greater CoucalThe Crow Pheasant bird is member of cuckoo family and widespread resident in Asia, from India to Indonesia. Greater Coucal found in wide range of habitats from jungle to cultivation and urban gardens and associated with omens in many parts of its range.430911028384500Green Bee EaterThe little Green Bee Eaters are mostly found around the wheat field and mainly feeds insect, they are also found in grassland, thin scrub and forest. Green Bee Eaters nest inside the ground and has commonly found throughout the large range of Asia.Indian Roller447401018863500The Blue Indian Roller is one of the?most beautiful bird of India?and sacred bird for Hindu. They can be very commonly seen across the roadside trees, wires and?open?grassland and scrub forest near by any village. Indian roller is also known as the Blue Jay or Neelkanth in Indian local language.Asian Koel490610031216500The Koel is the member of the cuckoo family and found across all over India, feeds mainly on berries fruits and also consumes insects. Monsoon period is one of best time to spot these singing birds around?the cities. The beautiful bird is a widely used as symbol in Indian poetry. The male Asian Koel is greenish-black with red eyes and female is brownish.458279525590500Indian MynaThe most Common bird Myna is native to Asia and adapted the urban culture and environments very well. There are many species of Starlings birds found in India some of them are easily spotted around?the cities?like common Myna, Brahminy Myna, Pied Myna and Bank Myna.Expert of Zai Whitaker’s ‘Salim Ali for Schools’Many years ago in china, the government decided to kill sparrows. They thought sparrows destroyed crops. But when all the sparrows had been killed, there was a huge explosion in the population in the population of insects. The Chinese had forgotten that though the sparrows eat grain, they also eat insects- many of which are pests that are the main enemy of the farmer.He talks about birds’ habitat, characteristics and other unique qualities in this lesson. Some birds like living near streams, some in trees and cities. But many species of birds are perplexed and alarmed that human beings seem to encroach upon their habitats. When we greedily chop down old forest trees, for example, bole-nesting birds become homeless. The Malabar hornbill, one of our most spectacular and interesting birds, nests in boles of old, tall trees in evergreen forests. The male hornbill ‘locks’ his wife and babies in the nest by covering the opening with mud. He leaves a small kitchen-doorway through which he feeds his family with insects, lizards, snakes and other delicious treats.This way, the chicks are safe from predators but get their daily meals and snacks on time. But old forest trees are becoming rare. The smugglers are cutting them down for their valuable wood, others are clearing forests for the kind ‘development’ like widening cities, dangerous highways, plying with faster cars creating more pollution. SummaryThis stage is meant for the teachers to know whether students have grasped and understood the concepts taught or not. This can be achieved by reviewing the lesson by giving assignments to the students. Only through this step achieving closure is possible. 1. Exercise Before beginning your lesson, ask your students to stand and join you for two-minutes of light exercise. You can do jumping jacks, knee bends, twists, stretches, or your favorite yoga poses. Anything that spikes the heart rate will do. Studies show that exercise can boost brain function, improve mood, and increase learning. I’ve found that it clears mental clutter and provides the energy boost students need to be at their best. Once they sit back down, your students will be refreshed, rebooted, and ready for learning. Use exercise breaks throughout the day you’ll notice a difference in your students’ attentiveness and performance. 2. Storytelling Children have an innate love of stories. Stories create magic and a sense of wonder at the world. Stories teach us about life, about ourselves and about others. Storytelling is a unique way for students to develop an understanding, respect and appreciation for other cultures, and can promote a positive attitude to people from different lands, races and religions. There are a number of ways in which storytelling can enhance intercultural understanding and communicationStories can… ? Allow children to explore their own cultural roots ? Enable children to empathize with unfamiliar people/places/situations ? Offer insights into different traditions and values ? Help children consider new ideas Other benefits of using storytelling in the classroom stories… ? Promote a feeling of well-being and relaxation ? Increase children’s willingness to communicate thoughts and feelings ? Encourage active participation ? Enhance listening skills 3. Curiosity “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing” ---Albert Einstein Curiosity is the key to student success now and in the future. Here's how to nurture it from the beginning. Kids are naturally curious. Set them loose in a room full of craft supplies or a muddy sandbox, and you'll see their imaginations come to life. But all too often that spark fizzles when kids sit down in the classroom, and it's up to teachers to reignite it. We talked to Todd Kashdan, author of Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life and clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at George Mason University, about the importance of following students' interests, exploring different perspectives, and fostering curiosity in the classroom. In this module, we have discussed about birds’ characteristics, habitat and etc. And also about Indian birds and its types. ObjectivesAt the end of this module you will be able to,Define our winged friendsExplain the bird’s characters Give the examples of types of birdAssignments1. Collect different types of bird’s feathers and paste it on the assignment sheets.2. Writes the essay about Indian birds.Tutorials1. Have you observed anything unique about any bird?2. Why do we need to co-exist with other species on this planet?3. In what ways have we encroached upon the habitats of birds? Linksbirding.in – People who study birdsGnash - to clash the teeth in angerGerminate – to sprout Unique – specialHabitat – animal’s homeEncroach – intrudeBole – tree trunkSpectacular – very impressivePredators – animals that kill and eat other animalsFreak – wild enthusiastFAQs with answer1. What are the characteristics of birds? Feathers, Skeleton, Beak, Egg, Wings.2. Why did the government of China decide to kill Sparrows? Government of China thought sparrows destroyed the crops.3. Why are the birds important in the web of life? Birds are important in the web of life. Because they are master pollinators who transfer pollen from place to place. They are wonderful seed carriers too. In this way it help in the growth of forests. Quiz with answers1. Encroach meansa) Intrude b) Prohibited c) Enthusiast2) The study about birds is called_____a) Ornithologist b) Entomology c) Podology3) Meticulously means a) Follow b) Carefullyc) Correct4) Our Winged Friends denotes______a) Birds b) Animalsc) InsectsReferencesDr. Ali Salim (1941) The Book of Indian Birds, THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Bombay.SynopsisBirds:Birds are group of endothermic vertebrates.Characteristics:Wings, feathers, skeleton, eggs.Indian birds:Myna, sparrows, Solai Paddi, etc.Speciality:Birds have lovely calls and songs, they don’t bite and most of them are beautiful to look at.Key words- Birds, Types of Birds, Habitat, Characteristics. ................
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