Birds of a Feather

Making connections across continents and classrooms

Consider this… the tiny hummingbird that delights us outside the kitchen window has spent the entire winter half a world away in Mexico! The little thrush we hear chirping in the backyard in the spring has just flown thousands of miles from its winter home in the dense, tropical forests of Nicaragua. These marvelous little travelers are the inspiration for the creation of an academic program developed to introduce young learners to the science of migration

Ornithologist

a person who engages in the study of birds using formal scientificmethods

Bridging the Americas/Unidos por las Aves is a cross-cultural environmental education program through the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. This partnership pairs classes in grades 2 through 4 in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. areas with classrooms across Latin America. This connection provides opportunities to exchange information about the migratory birds that our regions share Many familiar bird species spend the winter months in Latin America and return to the U.S. and Canada each spring to breed. Since 1993, close to 45,000 students from classrooms in the U.S., Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela have participated. Teaching aids and information on migratory birds are sent to participating classes to inform them of their partner country through this exchange. With great delight, students experience connecting with peers from parts of the world that look quite different from our Mid-Atlantic region.

Partnered classes learn about the migratory birds that connect their communities (and one another) through the exchange of letters, artwork featuring migratory birds, photos, and other materials throughout the school year. The ability for classrooms to connect via video calls has made real-time interactions possible as well!

Birds that migrate and have "two homes” are a wonderful way to reinforce the concept of how globally connected species and regions of the world truly are. As the impacts of climate change become more clear, it’s undeniable the impact that it has on migratory species, specifically birds, who rely on certain conditions for food and breeding throughout the year. In recent years, many migratory birds are altering their breeding and migration patterns in response to changing temperatures and food availability This can disrupt their entire life cycle and make it difficult for them to find suitable breeding and feeding grounds. As the climate changes, many birds are losing the habitats they rely on for feeding and seasonal shelter. This can lead to population declines and increased competition for resources.

Further enriching their experience, ornithologists from the Smithsonian visited CHS in the early spring, and worked quickly to set up special nets around campus to capture the birds who frequent the neighborhood. This allowed them to collect an array of common birds such as wrens, orioles, and robins for research. The ornithologists then carefully banded the birds’ legs with color coded bands; cataloging them for ongoing research before gently releasing them Our young researchers were able to observe each step of the process and asked insightful questions along the way based on the things they learned throughout the course of the program. Our own budding ornithologists are already feeling such resolve and commitment to impact the world for the better Our science program has been deeply enriched by the participation in this program and we look forward to continuing in the years to come.