Construct A Nest
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Construct A Nest
Materials:
•String
•Dried grass
•Twigs
•Scraps of paper
•Cloth
Birds' nests are more than just straw baskets--they're great engineering works. The weaver bird of Africa builds a spiraling, hanging nest with a special trapdoor. The albatross makes mud chimneys in which to lay its eggs. Storks make huge 6-foot nests on the roofs of houses in Europe, where they're considered good luck. Your local birds may not make such exotic nests, but they're no less wondrous.
•When the leaves have fallen from the trees in your area, take a walk and see how many nests you can find. (Don't confuse them with the ill-engineered nests of squirrels, which tend to be in the high forks of trees.) Perhaps you'll find a nest that has fallen to the ground, or one that's low enough to study.
•To appreciate the engineering feat, have your child try building a nest of his or her own, with twigs, string, dried grasses, scraps of paper, and cloth. Difficult, isn't it? Just imagine trying to do it with your mouth!
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