Critter Kits: Feathered Friends
- Fish & Wildlife
- Wildlife & Hunter Education
- Wildlife Outreach Program
- Critter Kits
- Feathered Friends
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 Resources
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The Cruelties of Fashion - Library of Congress
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Feathered hat - Library of Congress
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Feathered hat - Library of Congress
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A great black-backed gull chick
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A herring gull raids a cormorant nest. Gulls will smash and eat the eggs of neighboring species.
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A herring gull sitting on the nest.
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Action shot! A glossy ibis and snowy egret coming in for a landing.
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American oystercatcher
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Biologists travel by boat to each of the islands
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Black-crowned night heron
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Double crested cormorants guarding their nests on the rocks.
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Double-crested cormorant chicks, waiting for lunch.
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Glossy ibis nest. Welcome to the world!
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Glossy ibis
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Great black-backed gull nest
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Great black-backed gulls hanging out on some old structures in the Narragansett Bay
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Great black-backed gulls hanging out on some old structures in the Narragansett Bay
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Gull colonies are very noisy places!
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Gulls flying over a double-crested cormorant colony
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Herring gulls guarding their nests
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Many of the bay islands are closed to the public during the nesting season to avoid disturbance to the birds.
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Wildlife Outreach Coordinator Mary Gannon and Volunteer Coordinator Jen Brooks hold up their sticks, hoping that they won't get splattered with gull poop!
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Mary and Jen, being a little silly!
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Recently hatched cormorant chicks
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Searching for nests among the tall weeds (Can you spot the blue backpack?)
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There are 3 different species in this photo: Glossy ibis, black-crowned night heron, and snowy egret. Can you spot them all?
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Walking through a gull colony. Holding up a stick prevents the gulls from swooping down and pecking your head!
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Wildlife Outreach Coordinator, Mary Gannon, with a great black-backed gull chick
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Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Brooks, with a great black-backed gull chick
Feathered Friends Educator Packet
Download Photos (Zip File)
Additional Resources
Lesson Plan 1
Lesson 1: Bird Conservation History
Lesson 1 Presentation
Activities
Lesson Plan 2
Lesson 2: Bird Adaptations & Niches
Lesson 2 Presentation
Activities
- Create Your Own Bird Atlas
- Bird Beak Buffet (Modified from Project WILD)
- Bird Beak Detectives
- Bird Beak Detectives (visuals)
- Sample Birding Data Sheet
Lesson Plan 3
Lesson 3: How Can I Help Birds?
Lesson 3 Presentation
Activities
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.
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.
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.