Bird Beaks Challenge

Have you ever noticed that different species of birds have different shaped beaks? You would expect birds that live in the same habitat to eat the same food sources. However, to avoid competition with each other, birds have had to adapt over time to fill different niches within the habitat. One of those adaptations is the shape of the bird’s beak, which is used to gather and eat food. You will be given a limited amount of supplies to construct bird beaks which are best suited to gather and capture food within the niche. The problem is that you don't know what the niches or food will look like. Each of your beaks will be highly specialized to gather the most food possible in each time frame. Your beaks will need to overcome the following feeding behaviors: tearing, cracking, sipping, drilling, picking, probing, striking, straining, and scooping. Do your research about the feeding behaviors to have the best chance of success during the challenge. Along the way, you will also uncover how Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is related to bird beaks. Get to work. The survival of your species depends on it!

Charles Darwin - introduced his scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection, in which the struggle for existence has a similar effect to the artificial selection involved in selective breeding

Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection – Developed by Darwin. More individuals are produced each generation that can survive. Phenotypic variation exists among individuals and the variation is heritable. Those individuals with heritable traits better suited to the environment will survive.

Habitat – the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Adaptation – a change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment.

Niche - the position or function of an organism in a community of plants and animals.

You will be given a limited amount of supplies to construct bird beaks which are best suited to gather and capture food within the niche. The problem is that you don't know what the niches or food will look like. Each of your beaks will be highly specialized to gather the most food possible in each time frame. Your beaks will need to overcome the following feeding behaviors: tearing, cracking, sipping, drilling, picking, probing, striking, straining, and scooping.

· Plastic silverware (fork and spoon)

*3 paper clips

*3 laundry clips

· Toothpicks (10)

· Rubber bands (10)

· Cardboard (unlimited)

· Chopsticks (1)

· Straws (4)

*4 zip ties

· Scissors (as needed)

· Pipe cleaners (3)

· Paper (2 pieces)

*Card stock (1)

*hot glue

*Foam sheets (1)

*10 Popsicle sticks