Critter Kits: Feathered Friends

Rhode Island is home to some amazing birds! With the materials in this kit, you’ll be able to connect your students to the diversity of birds in their own backyards, bird conservation in Rhode Island, and how they can help.

What’s included in this kit?

Information about Rhode Island’s birds
Information on bird conservation history and current work in Rhode Island
Resources on how to help birds at home or at school
Sample lesson plans
PowerPoints
Photos and videos
Show and tell items
Fun bird-related activities

Feathered Friends Educator Packet

Educator Packet
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

Educator Resources

The Cruelties of Fashion - Library of Congress
Feathered hat - Library of Congress
Feathered hat - Library of Congress
A great black-backed gull chick
A herring gull raids a cormorant nest. Gulls will smash and eat the eggs of neighboring species.
A herring gull sitting on the nest.
Action shot! A glossy ibis and snowy egret coming in for a landing.
American oystercatcher
Biologists travel by boat to each of the islands
Black-crowned night heron
Double crested cormorants guarding their nests on the rocks.
Double-crested cormorant chicks, waiting for lunch.
Glossy ibis nest. Welcome to the world!
Glossy ibis
Great black-backed gull nest
Great black-backed gulls hanging out on some old structures in the Narragansett Bay
Great black-backed gulls hanging out on some old structures in the Narragansett Bay
Gull colonies are very noisy places!
Gulls flying over a double-crested cormorant colony
Herring gulls guarding their nests
Many of the bay islands are closed to the public during the nesting season to avoid disturbance to the birds.
Wildlife Outreach Coordinator Mary Gannon and Volunteer Coordinator Jen Brooks hold up their sticks, hoping that they won't get splattered with gull poop!
Mary and Jen, being a little silly!
Recently hatched cormorant chicks
Searching for nests among the tall weeds (Can you spot the blue backpack?)
There are 3 different species in this photo: Glossy ibis, black-crowned night heron, and snowy egret. Can you spot them all?
Walking through a gull colony. Holding up a stick prevents the gulls from swooping down and pecking your head!
Wildlife Outreach Coordinator, Mary Gannon, with a great black-backed gull chick
Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Brooks, with a great black-backed gull chick

Feathered Friends Educator Packet

Download Photos (Zip File)

Additional Resources

Activities

Lesson Plan 3

Lesson 3: How Can I Help Birds?

Lesson 3 Presentation

Activities

Migration Madness

Next Generation Science Standards

The material covered in the Rhody Critter Kits aligns with the following standards:

LS1A	Structure and Function
LS2A	Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
LS2C	Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
LS4C	Adaptation
LS4D	Biodiversity and Humans
ESS3A	Natural Resources
ES3C	Human Impacts on Earth Systems

Critter Kit Lending Policy:

Critter Kits are available to borrow for 2 weeks at a time. To reserve a kit, click the button below to view available dates and then fill out our reservation form to request a kit. Once your reservation has been confirmed, your selected kit can be picked up any time during your reservation period from the RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife headquarters at the Great Swamp Management: 277 Great Neck Road, West Kingston, RI 02892.

Wildlife Outreach staff will pick up the kit at your school or organization on the Friday morning of the second week. Please have the kit ready for pick up with a signed copy of the kit checklist confirming all items have been returned (checklist included with the kit). If in a school facility, we can pick up the kit in the school’s main office so that our staff does not interrupt your teaching schedule when picking up the kit.

Reserve a Critter Kit

Send us your feedback!

Are you using this kit online only or have you borrowed a kit to use in your classroom? We want your feedback! We're always working to make our kits better. Please provide your thoughts using our online form.

Critter Kits Feedback Form

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our staff are happy to help provide any support you need! Email gabrielle.demeillon@dem.ri.gov.