Lava Beds National Monument Habitats Overview Grade Level: 3rd-8th (O.S.S 4th-6th) (C.S.S: 3rd-7th) Students will identify essential components of a habitat and presence of Learner Objectives habitat & bird species at SSStudent will: Lava Beds National Monument. • Define “habitat” in a biological context • List the four essential components of a habitat Science • Identify habitat components at Lava Beds National Monument Standards Grade 3: 3.b.c.d.-L.S. Grade 4: 3.b.-L.S. Background Information Grade 7: 7.c.-I&E BBBirds, like all animals, rely on a habitat to survive. A habitat is described as Science an animal’s natural environment providing food, water, shelter, and space. Standards These four components are essential to an animal’s survival. Some birds Grade 4: 2L.1 need wetlands and marshes; others inhabit conifer forests or meadows. A Grade 5: 1L.1 bird’s adaptations enable it to thrive in specific habitats. An example at Lava Grade 6: 2L.1 Beds National Monument is the Red-breasted Sapsucker. The large bill of National Standards the Red-breasted Sapsucker is extremely well adapted to create small holes Content Standard A: in conifer trees creating sap wells, which the species feeds from and Science as Inquiry maintains throughout the year. Biologists and birders often use habitats as Content Standard C: an indication of where to find specific bird species and what species to Life Sciences expect in an area. Materials Included Student Journal Four common habitats of Lava Beds National Monument are ponderosa Binoculars-optional pine forests, sagebrush steppe, western juniper woodlands, and marsh areas Clipboards around Tule Lake. Birds are found in all of them. Learning about the Lava Beds National Monument maps habitats can aid in the identification and conservation of specific bird Bird focus cards species. Since the Klamath Basin Birding at Lava Beds National Common Birds of Lava Monument extends throughout all four habitat types, it provides access to Beds NM identify and observe an array of local birds. PowerPoint Materials Needed Taking students on a hike at Lava Beds National Monument is a good way Colored pencils to teach about the local habitats and birds found in them. To prepare students see Using Field Guides as a warm-up lesson plan. The in class portion Activity Time of the student journal focuses on the habitat requirements of the common Preparation: 20 min. Activity Time: 40 min. birds of Lava Beds National Monument found in the Common Birds of Lava Beds NM PowerPoint . The student journal to be completed at Lava Beds Best Season National Monument has students identifying habitat components and All Seasons identifying birds species seen in a habitat.

Vocabulary

 Habitat

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Lesson Plan Vocabulary Continued... Ponderosa Pine Forest Forest Habitat Components  Sagebrush Steppe Food: to obtain energy

Western Juniper Water: to stay healthy Woodlands and hydrated Getting Ready! 1. Read background information. Shelter: to protect from weather or predators 2. Determine two sites at Lava Beds National Monument for the field activity with two different habitat types. Space: to gather the other 3. Copy enough Student Journal: Lava Beds National Monument Habitats three resources, reproduce, sheets. raise their young, and defend their territory

Discuss! 1. Let students know that in this investigation, they will go on a field trip to Lava Beds National Monument. But first they need to “warm up” their habitat skills. 2. Ask students what people need in order to survive. What do wildlife such as birds need to survive? You may receive answers like seeds, mice in fields, nests, etc. 3. Explain to students that each bird has a habitat where it lives and gathers all of the things it needs to survive. 4. Ask students if they know what a “habitat” is? What is a habitat? 5. Ask students if they can list the four things birds need in their A habitat is an habitat in order to survive. Write them on the board. Birds need in environment normally their habitat: Food, water, shelter, and space. Do you think you could survive occupied by an animal. Just like we have a home to through a blizzard or rain storm without any shelter? go to, animals such as birds 6. Explain that these components may be limiting and at times are have one too. In an not available to birds as a result of competition, human animal’s habitat there are interference, and/or extreme weather. four essential components 7. Explain to students that there are four primary habitat types they need in order to survive– food, water, found at Lava Beds National Monument: ponderosa pine forests, shelter, space. In Lava sagebrush steppe, western juniper burshlands, and marsh areas. Beds National Monument, Discuss with students, that some birds are generalists and can live there are several kinds of in all habitat types. Other birds are habitat obligates and can live habitats each with different in only one habitat. Whether a generalist or habitat obligate, each populations of birds. You bird needs to find all four habitat components to survive. can find ponderosa pine forest, sagebrush steppe, 8. Explain to students that you will now review the common birds western juniper woodlands, of Lava Beds National Monument and the habitats where these and marsh habitats. birds live.

9. Give each student a focus bird ID card and the in class Student

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Lesson Plan Suggested Questions

Journal. What is a habitat? 10. Show Common Birds Power Point and have students write down information about their focus bird. Older students can use field What are the four components guides for additional information about their bird. (see Using Bird of a habitat? Field Guides lesson plan). What kinds of habitats are found in Lava Beds National Investigate! Park? 1. Let students know they will be going to Lava Beds National Monument to identify birds and to search for habitat Where would you find habitat components. for your focus bird species? 2. Define an area to search. 3. Have students identify types of food, water, shelter and space and if they would find their focus bird in that area. 4. At the site, ask students to identify other birds seen or heard. 5. After searching the area(s) have students share information about the habitat quality for their species (compare with birds detected). 6. Direct students to the second habitat type. Use data sheet two Fledglings! and repeat steps 2-6. 7. Discuss the differences between the two habitats and whether their focus bird could live in either one of them.

Follow-up! Ask students 2-3 questions to re-cap lesson (see right panel). Have older (6th-8th) students map the area and identify where each habitat component of their species is located on the map.

Lava Beds NM Map! Give students a map of Lava Beds National Monument and have them color code habitat types at each site. For example, color western juniper woodlands green, blue for

marsh areas, and so on .

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Lava Beds National Monument What if there aren't 1. Bunchgrass Trail any birds? Habitat: Western juniper woodland If there are few birds Birds: Spotted Towhee, Lazuli Bunting, present at the field trip site, 2. Lyons Trail have students brainstorm possible reasons for the Habitat: Western juniper woodland lack of birds. Reasons Birds: California Towhee, American Robin, Western Scrub Jay might include weather, new 3. Schonchin Butte Trail development, time of day, Habitat: Old growth western juniper woodland or disturbance (including Birds: Common Raven, Pinyon Jay you!). Recording when 4. Petrogylph Point Trail there are no birds can provide valuable Habitat: Sagebrush steppe information and help Birds: Brewer’s Sparrow, Sage Thrasher, Cliff Swallow students recognize 5. Captain Jack’s Stronghold patterns. Habitat: Sagebrush steppe Birds: Norther Harrier, Californian Quail, Western Kingbird 6. Hidden Valley Habitat: Ponderosa pine forest Birds: Red-breasted Sapsucker, Harry Woodpecker 7. West and East End Wildlife View Points Habitat: Marsh Birds: Yellow-headed Blackbird, Canada Goose, Snow Goose Photo by NPS #7 #7 #4 Four Habitats Types #5 Ponderosa Pine Forest: A dense growth of ponderosa pine trees often at high elevations.

Sagebrush Steppe: A dry environment characterized by the sagebrush, shrubs, and bunchgrasses.

#3 Western Juniper Woodland: #2 Dry areas on mountain slopes and high plateau’s. #1 Marsh Area: Lowland area where there is an excess of water such

as a marsh or swap.

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www.KlamathBird.org/Education/ Lava.html

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