VINS - Birds of Prey
An instructor from VINS visited last week and taught the preschoolers and kindergarteners about raptors. The kids learned that raptors are birds of prey; they hunt for their food. They have sharp breaks, sharp talons, and amazing eyesight which all help them catch their prey. Raptors have different shaped wings that are designed to help them fly fast like falcons or silently like owls.
Sharp beak Sharp talons
Good eye sight
Since raptors are carnivores (meat eaters), they eat bugs, small birds, and small rodents. They do not eat fruits, other plants, or bird seeds.
Bugs Small Birds
Small rodents
NOT fruit or birdseed
Different birds of prey have different shapes and characteristics that allow them to hunt.
The red tail hawk has broad, round shaped wings for energy-efficient flying, and owl wings are hollow so they can fly silently and sneak up on their prey.
Falcon wings are shaped like a triangle so they can fly fast! The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth.
We even got to meet a real bird of prey. After comparing the bird and it's characteristics (body shape and size, wing shape, beak and talons) with pictures we saw, we learned that this bird was a Kestrel (part of the falcon family).
The kids enjoyed getting the chance to feel different wings.
And we learned a new bird song that went to the tunes of Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes.
Sharp talons, beaks and eyes, beaks and eyes,
Sharp talons, beaks and eyes, beaks and eyes,
Wings for soaring high up in the sky,
Sharp talons, beaks and eyes, beaks and eyes
Hover, stoop and grab and eat, grab and eat,
Hover, stoop and grab and eat, grab and eat,
I can catch my dinner with my feet
Hover, stoop and grab and eat, grab and eat,
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