

Revised January, 2019
Bird Study Worksheet
Requirements for the Bird Study merit badge:
- Explain the need for bird study and why birds are useful indicators of the quality of the environment. Describe how birds are part of the ecosystem.
- Show that you are familiar with the terms used to describe birds by sketching or tracing a perched bird and then labeling 15 different parts of the bird. Sketch or trace an extended wing and label six types of wing feathers.
- Demonstrate that you know how to properly use and care for binoculars, a spotting scope, or a monocular.
- Explain what the specification numbers mean on binoculars, a spotting scope, or a monocular.
- Show how to adjust the eyepiece and how to focus for proper viewing.
- Show how to properly care for and clean the lenses.
- Describe when and where each type of viewing device would be most effective.
- Demonstrate that you know how to use a bird field guide. Show your counselor that you are able to understand a range map by locating in the book and pointing out the wintering range, the breeding range, and/or the year-round range of one species of each of the following types of birds:
- Seabird
- Plover
- Falcon or hawk
- Warbler or vireo
- Heron or egret
- Sparrow
- Nonnative bird (introduced to North America from a foreign country since 1800)
- Observe and be able to identify at least 20 species of wild birds. Prepare a field notebook, making a separate entry for each species, and record the following information from your field observations and other references.
- Note the date and time.
- Note the location and habitat.
- Describe the bird's main feeding habitat and list two types of food that the bird is likely to eat.
- Note whether the bird is a migrant or a summer, winter, or year-round resident of your area.
- Describe to your counselor how certain orders of birds are uniquely adapted to a specific habitat. In your description, include characteristics such as the size and shape of the following:
- Beak
- Body
- Leg and foot
- Feathers/plumage
- Explain the function of a bird's song. Be able to identify five of the 20 species in your field notebook by song or call alone. For each of these five species enter a description of the song or call, and note the behavior of the bird making the sound. Note why you think the bird was making the call or song that you heard.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Go on a field trip with a local club or with others who are knowledgeable about birds in your area.
- Keep a list or fill out a checklist of all the birds your group observed during the field trip.
- Tell your counselor which birds your group saw and why some species were common and some were present in small numbers.
- Tell your counselor what makes the area you visited good for finding birds.
- By using a public library, the Internet, or contacting the National Audubon Society, find the name and location of the Christmas Bird Count nearest your home and obtain the results of a recent count.
- Explain what kinds of information are collected during the annual event.
- Tell your counselor which species are most common, and explain why these birds are abundant.
- Tell your counselor which species are uncommon, and explain why these were present in small numbers. If the number of birds of these species is decreasing, explain why, and what, if anything, could be done to reverse their decline.
- Go on a field trip with a local club or with others who are knowledgeable about birds in your area.
- Do ONE of the following. For the option you choose, describe what birds you hope to attract, and why.
- Build a bird feeder and put it in an appropriate place in your yard or another location.
- Build a birdbath and put it in an appropriate place.
- Build a backyard sanctuary for birds by planting trees and shrubs for food and cover.
- Do the following:
- Explain the differences between extinct, endangered, and threatened.
- Identify a bird species that is on the endangered or threatened list. Explain what caused their decline. Discuss with your counselor what can be done to reverse this trend and what can be done to help remove the species from the endangered or threatened list.
- Identify three career opportunities connected to the study of birds. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss with your counselor if this profession might interest you.
Bird Study Worksheet
Comments:
Apr 15, 2020 - Alexander McLean
For the 'observe and be able to identify 20 species of birds'
requirement, do you actually have to observe 20 different species
in the wild, or do you just have to be able to identify them if
you see them at all? I can barely find 20 birds in the wild!
Thanks!
Apr 15, 2020 - Scouter PaulYes, "Observe" means see them. And, the requirement says to
record information about your observation.
Just from memory, I've seen these birds just on local walks over the past year: robin, crow, raven, blackbird, finch, cardinal, chickadee, sparrow, swallow, lark, seagull, crane, heron, swan, goose, duck, pheasant, eagle, hawk, pigeon, hummingbird, woodpecker, killdeer, pelican. That's 2 dozen without much effort.
Apr 17, 2020 - David WillisJust from memory, I've seen these birds just on local walks over the past year: robin, crow, raven, blackbird, finch, cardinal, chickadee, sparrow, swallow, lark, seagull, crane, heron, swan, goose, duck, pheasant, eagle, hawk, pigeon, hummingbird, woodpecker, killdeer, pelican. That's 2 dozen without much effort.
Scouter Paul, WRT the current situation and given the current
(temporary) change in requirements for rank requirements during
this "pandemic" (2c4 - Evidence of wild animals can be
demonstrated with information or photos of your local area found
online), do you think it would be OK to extend that philosophy to
this MB as well?
Apr 17, 2020 - Scouter Paul@David - I suppose that would depend on the personal view of the
merit badge counselor, and how much they feel a scout should
actually experience in order to complete a merit badge. I
wouldn't counsel a scout to complete the Hiking merit badge
without actually hiking, nor the Fishing merit badge without
actually fishing, nor the Bird Study merit badge without actually
studying birds.
Jun 27, 2020 - Mary Elizabeth DavisThe pandemic is actually a good reason
to go outside. I agree that experience
observing birds in the wild is an
important aspect of this merit badge.
Sep 08, 2020 - Craig A PetersenI know you aren't the final authority, but perhaps you might have some
input when this merit badge comes due for a review and possible change in
requirements. I'd like to see a discussion on bird banding - the
importance, what to do if you find a banded bird, etc... Could be added to
requirement 10 to discuss banding, its importance, the data collected, and
how to report a band.
Sep 09, 2020 - Scouter Paul@Craig - See section 7.0.4.0 of this page
for info on how to request merit badge changes.

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