Last updated: January 3, 2024
Lesson Plan
Climate Change & Bird Range
- Grade Level:
- High School: Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 11-12.RH.7
- Additional Standards:
- Next Generation Science Standards:
HS-LS2-2; HS-LS2-7; HS-LS4-5 - Thinking Skills:
- Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
How will climate change affect populations of mountain bluebirds locally and nationwide?
How does community science inform species conservation?
Objective
Students will compare the effects of climate change on different bird species.
Students will propose possible solutions to climate change.
Background
In Winter and Summer, Tule Springs Expedition Research Learning Center partners with our local Audubon Society Chapter (Red Rock Audubon) to participate in the Audubon Climate Watch bird survey citizen science project. Citizen scientists across North America report the data they collected during these surveys to help document how bluebirds and other bird species are responding to climate change and shifting their ranges.
The target bird species for the Tule Springs Climate Watch survey is the mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides). Volunteers complete one or more sets of surveys within a 10 x 10 km Climate Watch square, which categorizes projections for each species as improving, worsening, or static in climate suitability. Within each square, participants select 12 survey points that represent the best accessible habitat for the target species, and conduct a 5-minute point count at each point. A surveys typically take 2-4 hours and do not require the placement of any physical markers.
Results from these surveys help conservation biologists update real time and modeled bird range maps for different bird species in North America as we face the effects of global climate change. This nationwide citizen science project informs peer-reviewed science!
Preparation
Supplies Needed:
- Computers or laptops with internet connection (students may partner or form small groups to complete activities on shared devices).
- Instructor should supply the link to the Audubon Survival By Degrees Visualizer to students if they are utilizing printed copies of the Student Activity Sheets.
- The Climate Change in National Parks brochure can be accessed digitally or printed out for students.
- Printout or digital copy of Student Activity Sheet for each student.
Materials
Student instructions, prompts, and questions to work independently or in small groups. Author: Jake Johnson & Lauren Parry
Download Climate Change & Bird Range Student Activity Worksheet
The National Park Service Climate Change Response Program and Natural Resource Stewardship and Science directorate work together to educate the public about climate science in National Parks and how we are working together to adapt and come up with solutions for the negative impacts of climate change. This brochure includes pictures, stories, and information about these efforts.
Download Climate Change in National Parks Brochure
Lesson Hook/Preview
Climate Watch Introductory Video: It is recommended to play this video for an introduction to the Climate Watch survey program. Captions are available on this video by toggling the "CC" closed caption setting on the bottom of the video player.
Procedure
- Distribute digital or printed copies of the Student Activity Sheet to the class. Introduce the virtual investigation activity to the class with essential questions and objectives.
- Climate Change is predicted to affect the habitats of birds and where they are found in the winter and summer months, also known as their range.
- Citizen scientists all across North America can help gather important information about where birds are expected to be found and where they are confirmed to be. These community scientists follow the same steps and reporting instructions to ensure accuracy and consistency.
- Today, we're going to explore data collected from the Audubon Climate Watch Bird Survey and how it helps predict shifts in the range of different bird species, like the mountain bluebird.
- Having long-term, accurate records of species' ranges can help justify management actions, legal protections, or policy changes.
- Play the Climate Watch Introductory Video developed by the National Audubon Society for the class. Video playback requires internet connection. Captions are available on this video by toggling the "CC" closed caption setting on the bottom of the video player.
- Instruct students to work independently or in small groups (depending on teacher preferences or needs) to complete the Student Activity Sheet.
- To conclude the virtual investigation activity, prompt group discussion of their responses to the 3-2-1 chart at the end of their activity sheet. Discussion group size and style can be adjusted depending on classroom size and dynamic.
Additional Resources
- Learn more about Research Learning Centers across the National Park Service and how communities help build new knowledge through citizen science.
- Red Rock Audubon is the local Las Vegas Valley chapter of the National Audubon Society. They are dedicated to the environmental stewardship of habitats for birds and other wildlife across southern Nevada. Red Rock Audubon conducts birding events, habitat restoration projects, education programs, workshops, and monthly general membership meetings. All activities are open to the general public.
- Learn more about recent peer-reviewed and published scientific research informed by data collected by Climate Watch citizen Scientists.
- Read the "Survival By Degrees" report by the National Audubon Society. Scientists studied 604 North American bird species using data collected by both professional and citizen scientists. Comparing these data to global temperature models helps scientists predict how bird ranges will shift in the face of global climate change. This report found that 65% of bird species studied were vulnerable to the effects of climate change.