Winter Birds

Illustrated by Matthew (then age 2), Madeleine (then age 4) and Hannah (then age 6)

All the children in Mrs. Hill’s class agreed on one thing – it was cold outside!  When they went out for recess they could see their breath form billows of steam that looked like fluffy sheep.

“Oh look,” said Hannah, “I can see a red bird.  It is beautiful.”

“I can see a bird, too.  But mine looks different,” said Matthew.  “It is blue.”

“And mine is little.  It is yellow.  Look over there!” Madeleine exclaimed.

“I can’t see a bird,” said Anna, “but I can hear a bird.  Listen.  It sounds like it is saying ‘chick-a-dee-dee-dee’.”

“I wonder what kind of birds we have found?” asked Stephanie.

“Maybe we could ask Mrs. Hill,” suggested Robbie.

And when the kids went back inside, that is exactly what they did.

“Mrs. Hill,” Robbie said, “we saw some birds outside but we don’t know what kind they are.”

“What did the birds look like?” Mrs. Hill asked.

“One was red and he had funny hair,” Hannah answered.

“Another one was blue,” Matthew replied.  “He was sitting in a tree.”

“And another one was little.  He was yellow,” Madeleine described.

“We didn’t see the last one,” Anna explained.

“But we did hear it sing.  It said ‘chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee.  Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee’.”

Mrs. Hill smiled and said, “Since today is Tuesday and we will be going to the library, why don’t we ask Mrs. Gardiner to help us find a few books about birds.”

So up to the library they went.

Mrs. Gardiner was happy to help the grade one class.  She found four books about birds and said that they could take the books back to class.

It was not long before they had found their birds.

“The red one is a Cardinal,” said Hannah.

“The blue one is a Blue Jay,” said Matthew.

“The yellow one is a Gold Finch,” said Madeleine.

“The one that sings chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee is a Chickadee,” said Anna.

“I have a question,” said Oscar.  “How do these birds stay warm in the winter?  It is so cold outside.”

“I have a question, too,” said April.  “What do these birds eat when everything is covered in snow?”

“Those are two very good questions,” Mrs. Hill replied.  “I would like half of you to find out how birds stay warm in the winter and the other half to find out what birds eat when everything is covered in snow.”

The children of the grade one class returned to their groups and got to work.  The first group discovered that birds stay warm by fluffing up their feathers and by eating lots of food.

But what do they eat?  The second group found out that birds eat berries and birdseed in the winter.

“Can we make some birdseed for the birds? Timothy asked.  “We could hang it from the trees and watch the birds eat during recess.”

“Yes,” Mrs. Hill agreed.  “That sounds like a nice idea.  Please take out your agendas and we will copy out a birdseed recipe.”

The children scrambled to take out their agendas.  They were very excited.

Mrs. Hill read:

To make food for wild birds we will need

fine cut corn,  fine hard red wheat, white and red millet,

dried fruit and black oil sunflower seeds

“But what will we put the birdseed in?” asked Gregory.

“That is another excellent question,” nodded Mrs. Hill.  “Come sit on the carpet and we will try to figure out what to do.”

The children eagerly came to sit on the carpet.  Up went hands.

“Richard,” called Mrs. Hill, “do you have an idea?”

“We made a birdfeeder at our house,” explained Richard.  “We rolled a pinecone in some sticky stuff and then rolled it in birdseed.  Then you can tie it to the tree with a string.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” remarked Mrs. Hill.  “I think the sticky stuff was shortening or suet.  That is a kind of fat that will help keep the birds warm.  For tomorrow, I would like each of you to try to bring in as many pinecones as you can find.  I will bring in the birdseed and the shortening.”

On Wednesday, the children from Mrs. Hill’s grade one class brought in 24 pinecones!

“Wow,” said Mrs. Hill, “we will have some very happy birds in our playground!”

After all the children had finished their work, Mrs. Hill told them that they could start to make birdfeeders.  Each group spread newspapers over their desks and then they got to work rolling their pinecones in shortening and then in birdseed.

Mrs. Dale, the school principal, came for a visit to see what the grade one children were doing.  “These look almost good enough to eat!” smiled Mrs. Dale.

Mrs. Hill came around and helped everyone tie string to their pinecones.  Then they tidied up their mess and left the pinecones to ‘rest’ overnight.

The next morning, when the kids arrived at school, they saw a wondrous sight.  Hanging from the trees were the pinecone birdfeeders – and hanging from the birdfeeders were brightly coloured birds!

And if the children listened really carefully, they could hear the chickadees sing ‘Merry Christmas-mas-mas-mas.  Merry Christmas-mas-mas-mas’.

© 2005, Maureen Yorke.