Learning Objective:
Students will be able to understand that different types of birds all live and serve a purpose in the Gulf ecosystems. Students will go bird-watching at the wetlands to identify birds.
Implement this lesson:
Use this lesson when discussing animal ecosystems, habitats, or other environmental TEKs. This lesson can be used as part of a larger local theme i.e. Oceans Week. It can also be used for a bird themed day. The duration of this lesson can vary based on student and teacher needs.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
Science TEKS
K.10(B) identify basic parts of plants and animals
K.10(A) sort plants and animals into groups based on physical characteristics such as color, size, body covering, or leaf shape
1.9(B) analyze and record examples of interdependence found in various situations such as terrariums and aquariums or pet and caregiver
1.10(A) investigate how the external characteristics of an animal are related to where it lives, how it moves, and what it eats
2.10(A) observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics and behaviors of animals help them meet their basic needs
2.10(B) observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics of plants help them meet their basic needs such as stems carry water throughout the plant
2.10(C) investigate and record some of the unique stages that insects such as grasshoppers and butterflies undergo during their life cycle
ELA TEKS
K.3(B) use illustrations and texts the student is able to read or hear to learn or clarify word meanings
K.5(B) generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information with adult assistance
K.5(E) make connections to personal experiences, ideas in other texts, and society with adult assistance
1.9(D) recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including: (ii) features and simple graphics to locate or gain information
1.6(C) make and correct or confirm predictions using text features, characteristics of genre, and structures with adult assistance
2.6(B) generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information
2.6(I) monitor comprehension and make adjustments such as re‐reading, using background knowledge, checking for visual cues, and asking questions when understanding breaks down
Overview:
Shorebirds are a group of birds that live near water—especially coasts, beaches, mudflats, and salt marshes. Texas has a wide variety of shorebirds, especially along the Gulf Coast, where many stop during long migrations or live year-round.
General Appearance and Behavior
- Most are medium to small birds with long legs and slender bills
- Many have brown, gray, black, or white feathers to blend in with their surroundings
- They are excellent walkers and runners, often seen darting along the shoreline
- Known for probing in the sand or mud for small animals to eat
- Often found in groups, especially during migration or feeding
Common Shorebirds of Texas
Here are some examples of shorebirds you might see in Texas:
1. Willet
- Grayish-brown body with bold black and white wings when flying
- Loud, piercing call—often heard before it’s seen
- Feeds on insects, crabs, and small fish in marshes and beaches
2. Black-necked Stilt
- Long pink legs and a thin black-and-white body
- Feeds in shallow water, often seen in coastal ponds or salt flats
3. American Avocet
- Long, thin, upturned bill and black-white body with rusty head during breeding
- Swings its bill side to side in the water to catch food
4. Sanderling
- Small, round shorebird often seen chasing waves
- Pale gray and white coloring; quick runners
- Eats tiny invertebrates by pecking at wet sand
5. Killdeer
- Brown with two black chest bands
- Loud “kill-deer” call
- Known for its “broken-wing” act to distract predators from its nest
6. Long-billed Curlew
- Largest North American shorebird with an extremely long, curved bill
- Uses its bill to reach deep into the sand for worms and crabs
7. Piping Plover (Threatened species)
- Small and pale with an orange bill and legs
- Nests on beaches; easily disturbed by people and pets
- Protected due to low nesting numbers
Diet and Feeding
- Most feed on invertebrates, such as worms, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks
- Use different bill shapes and feeding styles to find food
- Some peck at the surface, others probe deep in the sand or mud
- Often feed at low tide, when more food is available
Life Cycle and Migration
- Many shorebirds are migratory, flying thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds
- Texas is a major stopover point along the Central Flyway for rest and refueling
- Some species nest in Texas, especially in coastal dunes or marshy areas
- Nests are usually simple scrapes in the sand, with well-camouflaged eggs
Habitat and Range
- Found in bays, beaches, tidal flats, lagoons, salt marshes, and estuaries
- Texas coastlines provide critical feeding and nesting areas for many species
- Some live in Texas year-round, others only during spring and fall migrations
Conservation Status
- Many shorebirds are declining due to:
- Habitat loss from development and sea-level rise
- Disturbance from people, dogs, and vehicles on beaches
- Pollution and oil spills
- Climate change affecting food sources and migration timing
- Some, like the Piping Plover and Red Knot, are federally protected
Interesting Facts
- Shorebirds are some of the longest-distance migrators on Earth
- Can fly from Canada to South America with only a few stops
- Shorebird chicks are usually born able to walk and feed themselves right away
- Texas’s coastal wetlands are among the most important habitats for shorebirds in North America
- Birdwatchers from all over the world visit Texas to see rare migrating shorebirds
Procedures:
1 Students will work in partners to complete a card sort of gulf shore birds using just photos. Each group will explain their decision making process to the class.
- Teacher will read a book on gulf birds, possibly Suzanne Tate’s Perky Pelican.
- Students can read other books on shore birds from the library
- Students will read create their own bird guide book using bird info packet either generated by teacher or from teacherpayteachers.
- Teacher led students on bird watching out at wetlands
Possible Books:
- Perky Pelican by Suzanne Tate
- Red Knot by Nancy Carol Willis
- Olivia’s Birds by Olivia Bolivar
- Chasing the Sun by Timothy Musso
- Border Crossings by Sneed B Collard III
Materials:
- Books on gulf birds
- Printed worksheet for gulf birds possibly from link above
- Science notebooks
- Optional binoculars
Questions to Ask:
- What do you know about shorebirds?
- Have you ever seen a shorebirds?
- How do shorebirds move?
- Do we have shorebirds live nearby?
- Can shorebirds harm us?
- What ecosystem does a shorebirds live in?
- What is a shorebirds habitat?
- What does a shorebirds need plants to survive in an ecosystem?
- Is a shorebirds living or non living?
- What does a shorebirds eat? What eats it?
Evaluations:
- Student participation
- Worksheet
Extensions:
- Students write a fiction or nonfiction story about a shorebird
- Students can birdwatch