Birds can fly because they have wings, a streamlined body, strong muscles, and very light, hollow bones.
Bird bones are very strong and perfectly adapted to flight. They have a dense, strong exterior and an interior reinforced with crisscrossing ridges and membranes. The hollow interior not only serves to reduce the weight of the bone. Bird bones are filled with air sacs that connect to their respiratory system, allowing oxygen exchange so that the bird's lungs have a constant supply of air to breathe. breathingBirds are energetic creatures, so they have a high demand for oxygen.
Scientific activities to learn about birds
Scientific experiment with strong hollow bird bone
This simple science activity demonstrates how strong a hollow bone can be.
You will need
Paper
Tape
Books
Paper plate
Instructions
Roll one sheet of paper into a circular column, another into a triangular column, and another into a square column.
First, stand the circular column upright and place books on top of it until it collapses. Repeat the process with the other two figures using the same books in the same order.
You should find that the circular column is the strongest, as it has no edges and therefore the weight is evenly distributed across it.
As an additional activity, roll up three circular columns and place the paper plate on top of them. Place books on the plate until the columns collapse.
Are you surprised at how strong a basic hollow column is?
More bird-themed science activities
Discover Why do birds have different shaped beaks? with a simple sorting activity.
Help local birds survive the winter months making a bird feeder.
Read more about the air sac system of birds.
Fun facts about birds
Feathers allow birds to move smoothly through the air.
Hummingbirds beat their wings 50 times per second. When they move, they produce the humming sound that gives them their name.
The feathers of a bird are called plumage.
Birds lay eggs in a nest to protect them. Bald eagle nests can be up to 2.5 meters wide!
Woodpeckers peck at trees to get to the tiny insects that live in the bark.
A woodpecker's beak is strong enough to make a hole in a tree large enough for a nest.
Cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other birds!
A skimmer has a scissor-shaped beak, allowing it to catch fish just below the surface of the water.
What birds don't fly?
Some examples of flightless birds are:
Ostriches
Penguins
Kiwis
Emus
Last updated on August 28, 2024 by Emma Vanstone
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