Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations

PICTURE BOOK SCIENCE

e N s t i t p s, S , r e w o P uke P and Other Brilliant

Bird s n o i t a t p Ada

LAURA PERDEW

Illustrated by Katie Mazeika

Bird Limerick There once was a hoatzin bird, Whose burps were really absurd!

It never ate beans, It only ate greens, So foul, its nickname was stinkbird.

Birds have many amazing and bizarre adaptations to help them survive. It’s easy to see how herons’ extra-long legs help them wade through water. And to hear a woodpeckers’ sturdy beak tap, tap, tapping on trees to find food.

But do you know what swiftlets use to build their nests?

1

Spit!

It’s true! Swiftlets dribble out long strands of gooey saliva to create a nest. When the spit dries, the cup-shaped nest is rock-hard.

This adaptation makes it easy to build nests high on cave or cliff walls to keep safe from predators.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could build a fort out of your own spit?

2

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swi ftle

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It can tak e tw om

ts to build their

3

Male bowerbirds build their own kind of forts, called bowers.

Guess what they do next—

they decorate!

Bowerbirds use colorful berries, shells, flowers, and other objects to add the perfect touch.

These aren’t nests, though. All that work and it’s not a nest? Nope. Males create bowers just to show off how smart and fit they are.

4

.

After spending months building and decorating their bowers, the t i g males spend n i d n e even more time maintaining and def

5

Birds do all kinds of crazy things to attract a mate, including a birdie boogie.

When it’s time to find a partner, male birds-of-paradise aren’t shy about showing off their dance moves and strutting their stuff.

e s e Th

n a ces sho d x e l p m w co

the fem ale s

6

puff up, bobble, bob, bow, fluff, waggle, shimmy, and shake, They will

hoping a female will pick them as a mate.

are the st

te d.

wh

ich ma les

p a d a l ronge l e st and most w

7

Blue-footed boobies do a mating dance, too. It’s like the hokey pokey!

“Put your right foot in, put your right foot out, put your right foot in and shake it all about . . .”

While males do the hokeypokey, females check out the feet.

Those large, webbed, blue feet are also for paddling through water and for keeping eggs warm.

8

r o f Females look

e t a m a

bluest e h t h fe wit

et.

t t e e l e l f h t e s r tha e u l b t e h T is healthy e l a m a

and STRONG.

9

Activity Time!

Build Your Own Bird Birds have beaks, wings, feathers, and interesting feet. Each of these features helps a bird to survive in its habitat.

Blue-footed b oo by

WHAT YOU NEED paper, colored pencils or crayons

WHAT YOU DO It’s your turn to design a bird.

Where does your bird live— the Arctic, jungle, desert, forest, or near the water?

What does it eat?

Does it build a nest?

Think about what kinds of beak, wings, feathers, and feet it needs to survive in that environment.

Now, draw your bird.

Keep in mind the different features it needs.

After you draw a picture of it, write about it.

Describe the habitat and your bird’s special adaptations.

Maybe it even has a special song or call to communicate.

Does it build a nest?

Don’t forget to name your bird!

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Emperor peng uin

Connections Shoebill stork

Birds are warm-blooded animals with a backbone, feathers, wings, and a beak. Some birds have hollow bones. They reproduce by laying eggs. Most birds can fly. But as you read, there are exceptions!

There are more than 10,000 species of birds.

It can take years for a young bird-of-paradise to develop the feathers they need for the dance displays and to perfect their moves. They rehearse a lot!

Emus are the second-largest bird in the world (right after the ostrich).

bowerbird Male

The beak of a crossbill is, well, crossed.

Black-capped chickadees have many complex calls, including an alarm sound.

Colonies of social weavers create woven nests so large they can have up to 100 different rooms.

Toco tou ca n

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Glossary adaptation: a change that a living thing makes to become better suited to its environment.

bacteria: tiny organisms found in bower: a kind of shelter.

Bald eagle

digestive system: the body system that breaks down food the food you eat.

incubate: to keep a developing egg warm. mate: a partner. nectar: a sweet fluid made by flowers that attracts insects.

predator: an animal or plant that kills and eats another animal.

saliva: the clear liquid in the mouth that helps you swallow and digest food.

Humming bird

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animals, plants, soil, and water.

ch owl cree s rn te s a

CHILDREN’S NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK

focus on science

AGES: 5–9 GUIDED READING LEVEL: TBD

Not all birds build nests with sticks and have good manners.

Some construct nests with their own saliva, while others use vomit as a defense!

Sound strange? In Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations, curious kids ages 5 to 9 discover many of the unique adaptations of birds. Stories of these brilliant adaptations cultivate deeper discussions about the crucial environmental science topic of adaptations in general. Using an easy narrative tone and vivid illustrations, this book is perfect as a read aloud or an early reader. Layered text and back matter provide further information and encourage readers to dive deeper into the world of unique bird adaptations.

Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations is part of a set of five books in the Picture Book Science series that explore awesome tales of adaptation.

CHECK OUT THE OTHER TITLES IN THIS SERIES!

PUB DATE: August 2020 PB: 9781619309524, $9.95 HC: 9781619309494, $19.95 5 Book Hardcover Set: 9781619309654, $96.95 eBook: all formats available, $6.99 Specs: 9½ x 9½, 32 pages, color interior with illustrations Ages: 5–9 Grade Level: 1–4

Publicity & Marketing: Co-op funds available Major national galley mailing Amazon Merchandising program National trade advertising, including: - Ingram - Follett School Solutions - Booklist - Baker & Taylor - School Library Journal

Distributed by Baker & Taylor Publisher Services - To order: orders@btpubservices.com, 888.814.0208 For more information about these books, contact Nomad Press: info@nomadpress.net, 802.649.1995