BE ADVISED: On Thursday, October 17 our museums will participate in a brief earthquake drill. Guests will hear an overhead announcement, but are not required to participate, nor will the building be evacuated. Please plan your visit accordingly or contact us at info@nhm.org or 213.763.DINO if you have any questions or would like to reschedule your visit.

BE ADVISED: On Saturday 10/19, the museum will close at 2 PM in preparation for a large event, with some areas closed to the public starting at noon. Boney Island at NHM will be open to the public at 7PM. Please plan your visit accordingly. For more information or to reschedule your visit, email info@nhm.org or call 213.763.DINO.

Observing Bird Behavior

A group of birds make use of the feeds at the Museum's bird watching platform

suggested for grades 2 - 12

Overview

Observing bird behavior can be a fun and fascinating way to build observation skills, practice careful note taking, and more! Using the below videos taken in our Nature Gardens, we can get up close and personal with some of our local native birds.

Using a nature journal or piece of paper, jot down your observations:

  • What's going on in each video?
  • What do you see that makes you say that?
  • What more can you find?

For further birding observations, check out this video from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Bird Academy.

Black Phoebe

The black phoebe has a black "hoodie" (crested) head with a white belly. They often "sally" (rush out, usually to catch insects, then return to the same place). Look for their mud nests near the Rotunda entrance at the Museum! Their call sounds like their name: "phee bee"

American Crow

The American crow is all black with a rounded tail. They forage for food in many places, including trash bins and parking lots. Their call sounds like "caw"!

Related Resources