Birds Without Borders

Are you looking for ways to build your students' quantitative skills, engage them in critical reading and writing, and have them see the relevance of key science concepts in addressing real-world issues? In Birds Without Borders, students analyze spatial and quantitative data, examine trends, make predictions, create management plans, and present and defend their results. Non-fiction texts and multimedia resources provide context and background for scientific exploration of real-world biodiversity data and issues in settings ranging from local to international. Birds provide compelling hooks to our local environment and links to foreign lands. They also provide essential ecosystem services, ranging from pollination and seed dispersal to garbage disposal and nutrient cycling. Birds Without Borders can be used as a module in biology, environmental science, general science courses, AP biology, or any other applicable science elective. The student readings and activities have been used successfully in courses ranging from seventh grade through advanced placement. This broad range is possible with differing types of scaffolding and levels of sophistication expected in data analysis and application of the results. Inside the book you'll find eight engaging investigations for students: 1 - Discovering the Ecological Roles of Birds (web-based videos); 2 - Exploring Habitat Needs of Nesting Birds (web-based GIS map); 3 - Determining Annual Life Cycles of Local Birds (eBird citizen science data) ; 4 - Modeling Bird Population Trends (eBird citizen science data) ; 5 - Tracking Birds with Citizen Science (eBird citizen science data) ; 6 - Bird Biodiversity Across the Americas (Excel and eBird citizen science data) ; 7 - Exploring Bird Conservation Needs at Home and Abroad (web-based GIS map) ; 8 - Creating a Conservation Plan (PowerPoint and web-based GIS maps).