"The ABC of ecology"

Внеклассное мероприятие “The ABC of ecology”

Цель

Формировать у учащихся ответственное отношение к природе и окружающей среде.

Задачи

1. Углубить знания ребят о природе и окружающей среде
2. Развивать командный дух
3. Укрепление любви к Родине и её природе
4. Формирование креативности в рисовании значков
5. Развитие музыкальности

Оборудование

1. Интерактивная доска.
2. Обычная доска.
3. Рисунки Плакаты Картинки по теме
4. Видео песен
5. Презентация
6. Ватман
7. Фломастеры
8. Ножницы
9. Маркеры
10. Цветные карандаши
11. Музыка для сопровождения рисования значков

Аудитория

8 класс (26 человек). Детям 14-15 лет.

Время

60 минут.

Форма проведения

1. Индивидуальная
2. Групповая
3. Игровая

Ход мероприятия

1. Введение учащихся в тему мероприятия, выведение его цели.

Классная комната украшена различными плакатами, рисунками и картинками по теме «Экология», «Животные» и «Птицы».

Good morning, boys and girls! We are very glad to see you! Let’s try to guess what we are going to talk about today. Look at the pictures, photos and paintings at the blackboard. That’s right! We are going to talk about nature and the protection of the environment. Let’s watch the video/ It is Michael Jackson’s song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU

What can you say now? What feeling and thoughts have you got after watching?

2. Now let’s listen to your reports about animals. Some of you have prepared to tell us about them.

Seagull

Pigeon

Pigeon is a bird that lives in close proximity to humans for thousands of years. There are over 300 different species of pigeons that can be found throughout the world (except in the Sahara desert, on the Antarctica and Arctic). Greatest variety of pigeons exists in India, Malaysia, Asia and Australia. Pigeons inhabit woodlands, tropical rainforests, grasslands, savannas, mangrove, rocky areas and even deserts. These birds are often kept as pets because of their beauty and intelligence. Beside large number of pigeons in the wild, hundreds of thousand pigeons live in captivity. Some species of pigeons are endangered due to habitat loss, predation and diseases.

Size of pigeons depends on the species. Large pigeons can reach 19 inches in length and 8.8 pounds of weight. Small pigeons can reach 5 inches in length and up to 0.8 ounces of weight. Pigeons can have dull or colourful plumage, depending on the habitat and type of diet. The most common type of pigeon (that lives in the cities) has greyish plumage. On average, pigeon has 10 000 feathers on the body. Pigeons have strong muscles used for flying. They can fly at the altitude of 6000 feet.

Pigeons can move their wings ten times per second and maintain heartbeats at the rate of 600 times per minute, during the period of 16 hours. Pigeons can fly at the speed of 50 to 60 miles per hour. Fastest known pigeon managed to reach speed on 92 miles per hour. Because of their incredible speed and endurance, pigeons are used for racing. Winner of the 400 miles long race can earn million dollars. Pigeons were used as mail carriers during the First and Second World War. They saved numerous lives by delivering information on the enemy’s fire.

Pigeons are herbivores (plant-eaters). Their diet consists of seeds, fruit and various plants. Pigeons are highly intelligent animals. They are able to recognize themselves in the mirror, to find same people on two different pictures and to recognize two letters of the English alphabet. Pigeons have exceptional eyesight and ability to identify objects on a distance of 26 miles.

Pigeons have very sensitive sense of hearing. They are able to detect distant storms, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Pigeons are social animals that live in the groups (flocks) composed of 20 to 30 animals. Pigeons are monogamous creatures (one couple mate for a lifetime). Couple of pigeons can produce up to 8 broods per year when the food is abundant.

Female lays 2 eggs that hatch after incubation period of 18 days. Young birds depend on their parents during the first two months of their life. Both parents take care of the chicks (called squabs) and feed them with milky substance produced in the crop. Pigeons can survive more than 30 years in the wild.

Swallow

Tree swallows are steamlined small songbirds with long, pointed wings and a short, squared or slightly notched tail. Their bills are very short and fat. The Swallow is a very abundant breeding summer migrant in the UK with over 700,000 pairs. The Swallow occurs in all counties throughout the UK. Swallows start to arrive in April and start to leave in September or October.

Swallows occur in all habitat types throughout the UK, woodlands, parks, gardens, farmland, indeed any open country. They are aerial feeders, taking a huge array of insects’ on the wing, they nest under eaves and other suitable overhangs. Swallows belong to the family Hirundininae which also includes martins. There are 84 recognized species worldwide.

A few swallows regularly spend the winter in southern Spain. Swallows like to nest in open-fronted buildings such as barns, stables and cowsheds. It takes a pair of swallows up to 1,200 journeys to build a nest. Only the female lines the nest. Swallows like to nest close to large domestic animals like cattle or horses.

Most British swallows try to rear two broods each summer and some succeed in raising three. Red-rumped swallows are spreading steadily north from the Mediterranian and small numbers of over shooting birds occur here every spring. Swallows were likely to have been much rarer before man started practicing agriculture and animals husbandry.

The male swallow invariably arrives back first from migration, singing over his territory in the hope of attracting a mate. Females generally appear a week to a fortnight later. Male and female swallows are virtually identical in appearance. They will readily adopt artificial nests that resemble their own mud-built constructions.

Much folklore surrounds the swallow. To see the first swallow of the year is regarded as a good omen. In Russia songs were written to celebrate their return after the long, cold winter. Before the mysteries of migration were understood, it was thought that swallows spent the winter buried in the mud of ponds and lakes. Swallows always drink on the wing, flying low to sip the water.

Nightingale

The nightingale is a small bird. It is also known as a rufous or common nightingale. It used to be classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae. It belongs to a group of more terrestrial species, often called chats.

It is a migratory insectivorous species. It breeds in forests and scrubs in Europe and south-west Asia. The distribution is more southerly than the very closely related thrush nightingale Luscinialuscinia. It nests on the ground within or nest to dense bushes. It passes the winter southern Africa. Studies have shown that nightingales seem to choose places to breed that meet certain criteria:

less than 200 meters above mean sea level;

mean air temperature during the growing season above 14̊ С;

more than 20 days/year on which temperatures are above 25̊ C;

less than 750 mm of rain per year.

The Nightingale is slightly larger than the robin, at 15-16.5 cm length. It is plain brown above except for the reddish tail.

Nightingales are named so because they frequently sing at night as well as during the day. The name has been used for well over 1,000 years, being highly recognizable even in its Anglo-Saxon form – “nightingale”. It means “night songstress”. Early writers assumed that female sang; in fact, it is the male.

The song is loud. With an impressive range of whistles, trills and gurgles. Its song is particularly noticeable at night because few other birds are singing. This is why its name includes “night”. Only unpaired males sing regularly at night, and nocturnal song is likely to serve attracting a mate. Singing at dawn, during the hour before sunrise, is assumed to be important in defending the bird’s territory. Nightingales sing even more loudly in urban or near-urban environments, in order to overcome the background noise.

Ostrich

Ostriches are large, flightless birds that have long legs and a long neck that protrudes from a round body. Males have bold black-and-white coloring that they use to attract females. Females, on the other hand, are light brown.

Ostriches are bigger than any other bird in the world. They can grow up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and can weigh up to 320 pounds (145 kilograms), according to the African Wildlife Foundation, and an ostrich's eyes are 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter — the largest of any land animal. The ostrich is the only bird that has two toes on each foot. All other birds have three or four toes, according to the American Ostrich Association.

Wild ostriches live in the dry, hot savannas and woodlands of Africa. They once roamed all over Asia, Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, but because they have been hunted so extensively, wild ostriches' range has been reduced to sub-Saharan Africa, according to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. However, ostriches can be found in captivity all over the world.

Ostriches are omnivores, which means they eat both vegetation and meat. Although they prefer plants — especially roots, seeds and leaves — they also eat locusts, lizards, snakes and rodents, according to the San Diego Zoo. They also eat sand and pebbles, to help grind up their food inside their gizzard, which is a small pouch where food is crushed and ripped up before it reaches the stomach. 

Ostriches don't need to drink water; they get all the water they need from the plants they eat. However, they do drink if they come across a watering hole.

Male ostriches are called cocks or roosters, and females are called hens. A group of ostriches is called a flock. Flocks can consist of up to 100 birds, though most have 10 members, according to the San Diego Zoo. The group has a dominant male and a dominant female and several other females. Lone males come and go during mating season. 

To get a female's attention, males bow and flap their wings outward to display their plumage. When they are ready to mate, the male's beak and shins will turn bright red. Sometimes, his neck will change to a red color to match. Females also change color when they are ready to mate. Their feathers will turn a silvery color, according to the American Ostrich Association.   

Ostrich eggs are 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter and can weigh up to 3 pounds (1.3 kg). Eggs are laid in a communal nest called a dump nest, which can hold about 60 eggs at one time. Males, as well as females, sit on the eggs until they hatch, which can take 42 to 46 days. 

Ostrich offspring are larger than any other bird baby. At birth, chicks can be as big as chickens. The males and females share the responsibility of taking care of the young, according to the San Diego Zoo. During an attack, the male tries to lure the predator away from the chicks while they run for cover with the female.

By six months, a chick is almost at its full-grown height; at 3 or 4 years, it will reach maturity. An ostrich can live 50 to 75 years.

The largest and heaviest living bird, the ostrich is flightless and instead is built for running. With its powerful legs, the ostrich can sprint in short bursts up to 43 mph (70 kph), and can maintain a steady speed of 31mph (70 kph).

Ostriches are in the same order cassowaries, emus kiwis and rheas.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List, most ostrich subspecies are not endangered, though their populations are declining. The Somali ostrich is listed as vulnerable, though their population is unknown. It is believed that they are on a rapid decline.

It may seem amazing that an ostrich's thin legs can keep their large bodies upright. Their legs are perfectly placed so that the body's center of gravity balances on top of its legs. Their thin legs give them great speed and maneuverability, too.

Contrary to popular belief, ostriches don't bury their heads in the sand, but they do lie down with their heads against the ground when they feel threatened. It only looks like the ostrich has buried its head because its head and neck blend in with the color of the sand.

Ostriches fight with their feet. They kick forward because that's the direction in which their legs bend, according to the American Ostrich Association. A solid kick can kill a lion. Ostrich feathers look shaggy because they hang loosely and don't hook together like feathers on other types of birds.

Owls

Owls are very interesting birds, and one that many other types of birds are afraid of. In fact, fake owls are often placed on top of buildings to keep pigeons and other types of birds from making nests there. The owl is said to be a symbol of wisdom and they make a unique sound at night that is distinctly identifiable.

The owl is one of the species of birds that you do don’t see very often though, but only hear. This is due to the fact that the owl isn’t a bird that is out during the day. They are known to be very active at night only. There are two main categories of owls – barn owls and typical owls.

You will find quite a difference when it comes to the size of different species of owls out there. Some of them are only about 4 inches when fully mature with the largest ones being about 28 inches fully grown. They vary in color too depending on the region where they live. They blend in well with their surroundings which makes it hard to spot them unless you are avidly searching for them in a given environment.

Owls are believed to be among the smartest of all birds. There are two main categories of owls, typical owls and barn owls.

Owls are fascinating to observe due to their behaviors. They are almost always found living alone. They may form a pair though or a small flock in some locations but that is very unusual. In areas where their natural habitat continues to get smaller though it is becoming more common.

The overall anatomy of the owl is quite interesting. They have large eyes, a rounded body, and small ears. They also have great vision and sense of smell. They can fly very quickly even though most of the time you see one it may be perched and not moving at all.

Owls have a routine that starts their day and it is interesting to see. They are very meticulous when it comes to their appearance. They will spend their first few hours awake preening and stretching. The talons will be used to clean over the feathers. Then the beak is used to clean the talons. An owl won’t leave its roost without this activity taking place unless they are scared off by predators.

They are extremely good at stalking their prey, patiently waiting for the right time to swoop down and get them. They can get prey that is in the water, on land, and in some circumstances even under ground. With their powerful talons they are able to pick up food and continue in flight.

The food is transferred to their beaks where it is swallowed whole. The owl has to regurgitate pellets about 10 hours after eating with the bones, fur, and other remains that they weren’t able to properly digest.

In many cultures the owl is a sacred animal and one that humans don’t bother very much. Yet there are plenty of locations out there where their natural habitat continues to be taken away for humans to use that area for something else. As a result it has reduced the overall population of many species drastically.

Therefore some species of owls are in jeopardy of becoming extinct. This is also why there are plenty of conservation efforts in place. The goal is to educate people about the needs of owls as well as their natural habitat. The hope is that by doing so people will do all they can to help protect these fascinating birds. While we do know quite a bit about owls, there is still plenty that we haven’t figured out yet. Part of the key to successfully protecting them also involves more research and data.

Parrots

Parrots are members of the order Psittaciformes, which includes more than 350 bird species, including parakeets, macaws, cockatiels and cockatoos, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Though there are many types of parrots, all parrot species have a few traits in common. For example, to be classified as a parrot, the bird must have a curved beak, and its feet must be zygodactyl, which means there are four toes on each foot with two toes that point forward and two that point backward. 

Because the parrot order includes so many different species, parrot sizes vary widely. Parrots can range in size from about 3.5 to 40 inches (8.7 to 100 centimeters) and weigh 2.25 to 56 ounces (64 g to 1.6 kg), on average. The world's heaviest type of parrot is the kakapo, which can weigh up to 9 lbs. (4 kg). The smallest parrot is the buff-faced pygmy parrot, which is only about 3 inches (8 cm) tall and weighs just 0.4 ounces (10 g).

Most wild parrots live in the warm areas of the Southern Hemisphere, though they can be found in many other regions of the world, such as northern Mexico. Australia, South America and Central America have the greatest diversity of parrot species. 

Not all parrots like warm weather, though. Some parrots like to live in snowy climates. A few cold-weather parrots are maroon-fronted parrots, thick-billed parrots and keas.

With their colorful plumage and ability to mimic human speech, parrots are very popular pets. Some parrot pets have escaped their owners and bred in unusual areas. For example, a popular bird in the pet trade, the monk parakeet, a native of subtropical South America, now resides in the United States after some of them escaped and reproduced in the wild.

Most parrots are social birds that live in groups called flocks. African grey parrots live in flocks with as many as 20 to 30 birds.

Many species are monogamous and spend their lives with only one mate. The mates work together to raise their young. Parrots throughout the flock communicate with one another by squawking and moving their tail feathers. 

Some parrots, like the kakapo, are nocturnal. They sleep during the day and search for food at night.

Parrots are omnivores, which means that they can eat both meat and vegetation. Most parrots eat a diet that contains nuts, flowers, fruit, buds, seeds and insects. Seeds are their favorite food. They have strong jaws that allow them to snap open nutshells to get to the seed that's inside. 

Keas use their longer beaks to dig insects out of the ground for a meal, and kakapos chew on vegetation and drink the juices.

Parrots are like most other birds and lay eggs in a nest. Some species, though, lay their eggs in tree holes,ground tunnels, rock cavities and termite mounds. Parrots typically lay two to eight eggs at one time. A parrot's egg needs 18 to 30 days of incubation before it can hatch, so the parents take turns sitting on the eggs. 

A parrot chick is born with only a thin layer of thin, wispy feathers called down. Parrot chicks are blind for the first two weeks of their lives. At three weeks, they start to grow their adult feathers.

Many species of parrots are endangered. The kakapo is a critically endangered parrot, according to the Kakapo Recovery Organization. There are fewer than 150 left. The there are only 50 orange-bellied parrots, found in Australia, making it one of the most endangered parrots in the world. 

The yellow-headed Amazon is another endangered parrot, though there are more of them than kakapos or orange-bellied parrots. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are 7,000 yellow-headed Amazons left in the wild.

Parrots are very good mimics and can copy sounds that they hear in their environment; they can even copy human words and laughter. The African grey parrot is one of the best at this and one named Alex (1965-2007) was reported to be the world's smartest parrot.

The kakapo is one of the world's longest-living birds; they can live more than 90 years.

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers are known for tapping on tree trunks in order to find insects living in crevices in the bark and to excavate nest cavities. There are over 180 species of woodpeckers, all in the family Picidae.

Woodpeckers primarily eat insects, along with fruit, acorns and nuts.

Due to their international dispersal, overall woodpecker population numbers are unknown. There have been reported sightings of at least one ivory-built woodpecker on the last five years, while red-cockaded woodpecker populations are estimated to between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals throughout its range.

Woodpeckers have bristle-like feathers over their nostrils help to keep wood particles from being inhaled.

Woodpeckers can be found in wooded areas all over the world, except in Australia. The ivory-built woodpecker was rediscovered in Arkansas in 2006. According to scientists, there may be a second population in the cypress forests of Florida’s panhandle. The red-cockaded woodpecker can be found through the southeast of the United States from Texas to the Atlantic Coast and north to Virginia.

The woodpecker’s strong, pointed beak acts as both a chisel and a crowbar to remove back and find hiding insects. It has a very long tongue, up to four inches in some species – with a glue-like substance on the tip for catching insects.

While most birds have one toe pointing back and three pointing forward on each foot, woodpeckers have two sharply clawed toes pointing in each direction to help them grasp the sides of trees and balance while they hammer – this formation is called zygodactal feet. Many woodpecker species also have stiffened tail feathers, which they press against a tree surface to help support their weight.

Woodpeckers live in wooded areas and forests, where they tap on tree trunks in order to find insects living in crevices in the bark and to excavate nest cavities. Some species drum on trees to communicate to other woodpeckers and as a part of their courtship behavior. Woodpeckers tap an estimated 8,000-12,000 times per day. Some species require very specific conditions for their home. For example, the red-cockaded woodpecker can only live in mature pine forests in the southeastern United States.

Male and female woodpeckers work together to excavate a cavity in a tree that is used as a nest and to incubate eggs for about two weeks. When a woodpecker hatches, it is blind and does not have any feathers. One parent brings food to the nest while the other parent stays with the young. The young generally leave the nest after 25-30 days.

The magpie

The Magpie is the most easily identifiable member of the Corvid (Crow) family, its black and white colouration, long tail, large size and rattling call makes it obvious. The rhyme ‘One for sorrow, two for joy etc.’ is quite apt for this species as you very rarely see a single bird, usually they parade around in a small family groups.

Identification:

Adults

• Without doubt another of UKs most easily recognised birds.
• Adult males and females are alike.
• Magpies are large birds, around 45-50cm in length and a wing span of 55cm.
• They often appear in small groups foraging noisily for food.
• The birds plumage appears to be black and white but on closer inspection the blacks have a beautiful iridescent sheen of greens, blues and purples.
• Upper parts; head, breast are black with very little sheen whilst the wings show an iridescent blue gloss, the long black tail also has an iridescent sheen, but this time bottle green.
• Undertail coverts are matt black.
• At rest bird shows a large white scapular patch just above the wing.
• Belly, flanks and rump are white.
• In flight the white primaries (outer wing) are obvious.
• Bill, legs and eye black.

Juveniles

Juveniles appear from May onwards and look similar to adults; the only real difference is in the length of the tail, which is much shorter, about half the length of an adult.

Status and Distribution

The Magpie is a very abundant breeding resident in the UK with over 550,000 pairs. In addition to this there is a large non breeding population. The Magpie occurs in all counties throughout England, Wales and Ireland.
Magpies are far less common in Scotland as they are absent from the Highlands.

Habitat / Food

Magpies occur in all habitat types throughout the UK, towns, cities, woodlands, parks, gardens, farmland, hedgerows indeed any open country habitat, they are more local in Scotland as they absent in the Highlands.
Magpies will forage for food and will raid nests for eggs and chicks.Their diet includes Insects, carrion, scraps, Seed Mixes, Fruit and Fat Balls . Magpies are not fussy eaters and will have a go at almost anything!

Song / Call

The hard loud metallic rattles and chatters are commonly heard as a troop of Magpies move through. These sound similar to a football rattle.

Crows

Crows are black birds known for their intelligence and adaptability, and for their loud, harsh "caw." They also have a reputation for damaging crops; however, their impact may be less than previously thought. 

The genus Corvus comprises crows, ravens and rooks. These birds are all part of the Corvidae family, which includes jays, magpies and nutcrackers.

There are about 40 species of crow, according to PBS, so there are many different sizes of crows. The American crow measures around 17.5 inches (45 centimeters). The fish crow measures around 19 inches (48 cm). The common raven is much larger and measures around 27 inches (69 cm). Crows can weigh anywhere from 12 to 57 ounces (337 to 1,625 grams). Rooks are smaller than crows and have distinct wedge-shaped tails and light-colored bills. They average 18 inches (47 cm) long.

American crows differ from common ravens in several ways. Ravens are bigger; their voices are hoarser; and they have heavier bills.

Crows can be found all over the world in a variety of habitats. For example, the American crow lives all over North America and prefers open areas — agricultural land and grasslands — with trees nearby. They also thrive in suburban neighborhoods. 

The common raven is one of the most widespread birds worldwide, according to the ADW. They are found in northern Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland and Greenland; throughout Asia, from the Pacific Ocean to the Himalayas to India and Iran; across northwestern Africa and the Canary Islands; and in North and Central America as far south as Nicaragua. They prefer open landscapes, too - seacoasts, treeless tundra, rocky cliffs, mountain forests, open riverbanks, plains, deserts and scrubby woodlands. 

Rooks are found across Europe and western Asia. They, too, prefer wide open spaces, river plains and steppes.

Rooks are smaller than crows and are found in Europe and western Asia.

Crows are extremely intelligent birds. They are known for their problem-solving skills and amazing communication skills. For example, when a crow encounters a mean human, it will teach other crows how to identify the human. In fact, research shows that crows don’t forget a face.

Many types of crows are solitary, but they will often forage in groups. Others stay in large groups. A group of crows is called a murder. When one crow dies, the murder will surround the deceased. This funeral isn’t just to mourn the dead, though. The crows gather together to find out what killed their member. Then, the murder of crows will band together and chase predators in a behavior called mobbing.

Some crows migrate while other crows don’t migrate in the common sense. They will travel to warmer areas of their territory, when needed.

American crows can be harmful to crops, but they also may prevent damage by eating insect pests, according to the ADW. Recent studies have shown that 60 to 90 percent of insects eaten by rooks are agricultural pests. 

As foragers, they also clean up dead animals and garbage. In fact, crows are often blamed for overturning garbage cans; however, the real culprits are usually raccoons or dogs.

Crows are omnivores, which means they eat nearly anything. Crows eat small animals such as mammals, amphibians, reptiles, eggs and carrion. They also eat insects, seeds, grains, nuts, fruit, non-insect arthropods, mollusks, worms and even other birds. Crows have also been noted eating garbage and store food in caches, short-term, in trees or on the ground.

Crows are cooperative breeders, which means they often stay close to the place where they were born and help raise and defend the area’s young chicks. When it is time to have offspring, a mating pair will build a nest 15 to 60 feet (4.5 to 18 meters) above the ground using branches, twigs, hair, twine, bark, plant fibers, mosses, cloth and other materials. Nests are 1.5 to 2 feet (46 to 61 cm) in diameter.

The female lays four to five eggs and incubates them for 18 days. At four weeks, the chicks are able to leave the nest, though their parents still feed them until they are around 60 days old. Crows can live up to 14 years.

Most crows are not endangered. The Flores crow is one of the exceptions. It is listed as endangered because it has a very small population that is on the decline as deforestation threatens its home on the Indonesian islands of Flores and Rinca. The IUCN thinks that its population is around 600 to 1,700 mature individuals. The Hawaiian crow is extinct in the wild.

Members of the same genus as crows, ravens are larger birds with bigger bills.

American crows will stand on anthills and let the ants climb on it. Then, the bird will rub the ants into their feathers. This behavior is called anting and is used to ward of parasites. Ants can also cause birds to get drunk from the formic acidreleased from the ant’s bodies.

Crows and ravens are important in mythology, fables and native cultures. They are often identified as clever tricksters. In some cultures, they are symbols of good luck; in others, they bring bad luck.

The swan

The swan is a large aquatic bird closely related to geese and ducks. The swan is known for it's fierce temperament and the swans incredibly strong wings which are said to be able to cause dangerous (sometimes fatal) injuries to any animal the swan feels threatened by.

The swan is found on both sides of the Equator across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The northern swan is generally white in colour with an orange beak and the southern swan tends to be a mixture of white and black in colour with red, orange or black beaks.

The Australian black swan has been noted to only swim with one leg, the other being tucked above it's tail. This helps the swan to change direction more smoothly when the swan is swimming on the surface of the water, should the swan spot food or even an oncoming predator.

Swans are omnivorous birds but have a very vegetarian diet. Swans eat underwater vegetation such as seaweed and aquatic plants when they are on the water and a mixture of plants, seeds and berries when they are on land. Swans also eat insects both water and land based and the occasional small fish.

Due to their large size, swans have few natural predators in the wild. The swan's main predator is the human who hunts the swan for it's meat and it's feathers. Other predators of the swan include wolves, raccoons and foxes they prey both on the swan itself but also on it's eggs.

Although swans do not mate for life, couples establish strong bonds between one another and can often mate for a few years. Swans build their nests on land out of twigs and leaves, and the female swan lays between 3 and 9 eggs. The baby swans (known as cygnets) hatch out of their eggs after an incubation of just over a month. The cygnets are often on the water with their mother swan within a couple of days and stay close to her for both protection and warmth. The mother swan will guard her baby swans furiously from predators or any animal that she believes is a threat.

Swans have many adaptations in order to successfully survive life on the water such as their streamline body shape, long neck and webbed feet. The wings of the swan are also very strong meaning that the swan is one of the few heavy birds that is able to fly, even if it is only a short distance.

There are around 7 different species of swan found around the world. The size, colour and behaviour a swan individual is largely dependent on it's species and the area in which it lives.Today swans are a threatened species of animal mainly due to hunting and habitat loss. Pollution (mainly water pollution) is also a major reason as why the swan populations are declining. Humans kept swans for many years for their meat, but today have more respect for the conservation of the swan and keep more sustainable animal food sources.

Blackbird

Blackbird is a songbird that belongs to the family of thrushes. It originates from Eurasia. There are 13 subspecies of blackbirds that can be found around the world today. Blackbird inhabits forests, beaches, marshes and mountains. It can be also found in suburban and urban areas, in the parks, gardens, orchards and vineyards. Car accidents and accelerated development of agriculture are the major threat for the survival of blackbirds in the wild. Despite these factors, population of blackbirds is large and stable.

Blackbird can reach 9.2 to 11.4 inches in length and 2.8 to 4.4 ounces of weight. Males and females can be differentiated by the colour of the plumage (sexual dimorphism). Males have black body, golden yellow rings around eyes and yellow beaks. Females have brown body and rusty-red breast covered with streaks. Their beaks are dark-coloured.

Blackbird is an omnivore (it eats plants and meat). Its diet is based on insects, worms, slugs, seed, fruit and berries. Blackbird occasionally eats small amphibians and lizards. Blackbird uses its strong beak to pull out insects and caterpillars hidden in the soil. It also searches food below leaf litter and inside the trees.

Northern populations of blackbirds migrate toward the Africa and tropical parts of Asia before the winter. They live in small flocks on the wintering grounds. Young males start to sing from march to June or July. Blackbirds produce beautiful, melodic, fluty songs.

Some subspecies of blackbirds are able to mimic sounds of cats, humans and other birds. They also produce various alarm calls to alert other members of the group about upcoming danger. Natural enemies of blackbirds are cats, foxes and large birds of prey (sparrow-hawk).

Mating season of blackbirds starts in March. One pair usually produces 2 broods per season. They form monogamous couples and protect their territory from intruders. Blackbirds build cup-shaped nests on the trees or in the shrubs. Males collect twigs, bark, mud and leaves, while females use them to construct the nest. Entire process lasts 11 to 14 days.

Female lays 3 to 5 bluish-green eggs covered with red blotches. Male provides food for female during incubation period that lasts 17 days. Cuckoo often lays eggs inside blackbirds’ nests. Luckily, blackbirds easily recognize different-coloured eggs and eliminate them from their nests.

 Both parents provide food for their offspring. Young blackbirds are ready to leave the nest 13 days after hatching, but they are not ready for the independent life at least 3 more weeks. Blackbirds can survive 16 to 20 years in the wild, but they rarely leave more than 2.5 years.

3. Dos and don’ts. Look at the board. Put the statements below in the right categories.

Plant more trees to make your country green.

Cut down trees, which make our air clean.

Turn the rivers into dumps.

Build factories on river banks.

Feed animals in cold seasons.

Help animals to survive.

Pour toxic waste into the rivers and lakes.

Dump old cars in forests.

Burn toxic waste.

Clean rivers and lakes.

Be careful with farm waste.

Use rivers for washing cars.

Use fewer cars.

Make Clean Air laws.

Take lorries out of city or town centres.

Pay big money if you’re a polluter.

Make laws to control pollution.

4. Now let’s talk about the book where you can find information about rare and endangered species.

The Red Book is an illustrated collected volume of the rarest and threatened species.
The main missions of the Red Book are to survey and inventory the rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi; supply relevant information on them; to expound key methods of wildlife preservation and restoration. These tasks are set globally (The IUCN Red List) as well as at the national and regional levels (e.g. Russian Red Data Book, Southern Urals Red Book, etc.). The history of the red books dates back to 1902, when several countries signed in Paris the first red book of the kind, namely , the International Convention for the Protection of Birds, Useful to Agriculture. It may be considered the first international agreement for the protection of biodiversity.In 1948, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was established — the UN non-governmental organization, uniting, in 1984, 502 organizations in 130 world countries.In 1949, specialist public Species Survival Commission was established. The USSR was represented by G. P. Dementyev (1956), A. G. Bannikov (1960),  V. G. Geptner (1966).The Commission set itself the tasks to study rare species of threatened animals and plants, draft international and supra-national conventions and agreements, to inventory those species and to produce corresponding recommendations for their preservation.The Commission’s priority is to compile global checklist of endangered animals. To emphasize the special significance of the inventory, Peter Scott who chaired the Commission up to 1978, suggested to name it the Red Book as the red color is an alarm symbol.Today, there is hardly a person who has never heard of the red books. In 1963, the first IUCN Red Data Book was published.  Its two volumes presented the summary of 211 mammal and 312 bird taxa
In 1966-71, the second, the much larger edition was published. It comprised data on 236 species (292 subspecies) of mammals in the volume I, 287 species (341 subspecies) of birds in the Volume II), and 119 species and subspecies of reptiles plus 34 species and subspecies of amphibians.The third edition published since 1972 comprised the data of 528 species and subspecies of mammals, 619 species of birds, 153 species and subspecies of reptiles and amphibians.The most recent fourth edition of 1978 – 1980 comprises 226 species and 79 subspecies of mammals, 181 species and 77 subspecies of birds, 77 species and 21 subspecies of reptiles, 35 species and 5 subspecies of amphibians, 168 species and 25 subspecies of fish. Among them 71 restored species and subspecies of mammals, 4 those of birds, and two of reptiles.The USSR had its Red Book, and after the USSR collapsed, the newly established states published their own red lists. Moreover, today every RF region has got its own Red Book.There is also the Black Book, or precisely speaking, dedicated pages in the end of the Red Book), numbering the species vanished from the earth since 1500 and on. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as of 2008, 844 of animals are completely extinct, with thousand species of plants wiped out.

5. Now let’s have some rest and sing a song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DJ45Yc3urg&list=RDQMR6VGpDSsG78&start_radio=1

We’re going green

We're going GREEN
We're going GREEN
We're gonna' take care of the Earth
We're going GREEN
You can go GREEN at your home or school
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE
REDUCE
Be careful how long you take a shower
You don't need to stand there for 70 hours!
Turn off the water when you're brushin' your teeth
...and only use the necessary energy
Turn off the lights when they're not in use
Think how much ELECTRICITY you produce!
Take quick drinks
Walk to school
REDUCING energy is really cool!
Pull out plugs when you're not using them
Turn off the computer every now and then
Throw away litter
Pick up trash
..and you'll save the Earth in a flash!
We're going GREEN
We're going GREEN
We're gonna' take care of the Earth
We're going GREEN
You can go GREEN at your home or school
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE
REUSE
Reuse stuff when you're OUT and ABOUT
If you can use it again, don't throw it out!
REUSE bottles
REUSE bags
REUSE containers
REUSE rags
DONATE toys so someone else can use 'em!
DONATE clothes
Don't just lose 'em!
We're going GREEN
We're going GREEN
We're gonna' take care of the Earth
We're going GREEN
You can go GREEN at your home or school
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE
RECYCLE
Just throwing away is not enough
RECYCLE some things to make new stuff!
Paper
Cans
Plastic
Glass
Cardboard
Games, CDs, and DVDs
Light bulbs, cartridges, and batteries
Laptops, cell phones, and the news
Lots of METALS you can choose
We're going GREEN

 “An unusual badge”.  Now let’s talk about Russian organizations which

Экологические организации России

Официальный сайт: http://voop.spb.ru

All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation

It was founded in 1924 as a voluntary nature conservation society.

Today it is all-Russian, public cultural and educational ecological organization.

Its aims are environmental conservation and maintaining diversity of flora and fauna.

Cайт организации: www.ecopolicy.ru

Centre for Environmental Policy of Russia.

This centre was created in 1993 as a professional public ecological organization to support ecological movement and to create recommendations for legislative and executive power.

Сайт организации: www.greenparty.ru

Russian environmental movement “Greens”

Russian ecological party “Greens” based on an ecological movement “Cedar” was created in 1994. Its aim is to change the government’s and society’s attitude to ecological problems of Russia.

 Cайт организации: www.vernadsky.ru

The V.I. Vernadsky Nongovernmental Ecological Foundation was established in 1995.

The V.I. Vernadsky Nongovernmental Environmental Foundation was established in 1995. The main goal of the Foundation is to achieve sustainable environmentally oriented socio-economic development of the society based on the scientific heritage of the Academician V.I. Vernadsky. The Foundation initiates and implements socially significant projects in the field of environmental protection, environmental education, formation of ecological culture in the interest of sustainable development, as well as sectoral programs and projects in the field of industrial ecology.

Официальный сайт: www.rusrec.ru

Официальный сайт: www.greenpatrol.ru

 It is all-Russian public organization registered in May, 2006. The Internet recourse was created in April, 2007. The main aim of the organization is to help ecological public culture grow, to protect human rights for good environment, clean water, quality food, to protect unique Russian nature and to develop tendencies necessary for sustainable development of the country.

Официальный сайт: www.green-cross.ru

Russian green cross is a non-governmental public organization, a member of an international association “Green Cross”. It was created in 1994.

It helps to hold events to protect the environment, to save it for descendants and to develop the ability to live and make progress in accordance with nature laws.

Официальный сайт: www.dop.environment.ru

The Movement of Nature Conservation Teams appeared in the 60s of the 20^th century as a students’ environmental movement. It consists of students and natural science specialists. They advocate for competence and professionalism in studying and solving environmental problems. Its participants don’t know it to turn into a fashionable entertainmen, a political bait and meaты ща profit.

6. Рисование своего логотипа. You are to draw your own badge concerning the protection of the environment. После окончания мероприятия можно оформить выставку значков учащихся.
7. Подведение итогов мероприятия, рефлексия. So, our meeting is coming to the end. Please, select a smile that reflects your attention to it. What new information have you learned today? What has shocked you? What has surprised you?
8. Исполнение песни

Now let’s sing the song all together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLCSTn6_uU0

This is an open letter From you and me together
Tomorrow's in our hands now
Find the words that matter say them out loud
And make it better somehow, hmm-mm

Looking down from up on the moon
It's a tiny blue marble
Who'd have thought the ground we stand on
Could be so fragile

This is a love song to the earth
You're no ordinary world
A diamond in the universe
Heaven's poetry to us
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah
'Cause it's our world
It's our world

It's not about possessions, money or religion
How many years we might live
When the only real question that matters is still
A matter of perspective

Looking down from up on the moon
You're a tiny blue marble
Who'd have thought the ground we stand on
Could be so fragile

This is a love song to the earth
You're no ordinary world
Diamond in the universe
Heaven's poetry to us
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah (keep it safe, yeah, keep it safe)
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah (keep it safe, yeah, keep, keep, keep it)
Keep it safe (keep mama earth safe)
'Cause it's our world
It's our world (pree bang bang bang bang)

See mama earth is in a crazy mess
It's time for us to do our best
From deep sea straight up to Everest
She's under crazy stress
Unless you wanna be motherless

Clean heart, green heart it's the way I stress
Speediness, and too much greediness
Six billion people all want pettiness (it's our world)
Some people think this is harmless (it's our world)
But if we continue, there'll only be emptiness
Oh, no-no-no-no

This is a love song to the earth
You're no ordinary world
A diamond in the universe
Heaven's poetry to us (heaven's poetry to us)
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah (keep it safe)
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah (keep it safe)
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah (special paradise)
Let's keep it safe

This is a love song to the earth
You're no ordinary world
Diamond in the universe
Heaven's poetry to us
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah
Keep it safe, yeah, yeah

It's our world (keep it safe)
It's our world
It's our world
It's our world
'Cause it's our world.

​​​​​​​                                                

/data/files/k1701616843.pptx ("Birds")Список источников:

1. https://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/seagull_facts/695/
2. https://www.alamy.com/pigeon-is-a-bird-that-lives-in-close-proximity-to-humans-for-thousands-of-years-there-are-over-300-different-species-of-pigeons-that-can-be-found-thr-image365097925.html
3. https://academic-accelerator.com/encyclopedia/cliff-swallow
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_nightingale
5. https://www.livescience.com/27433-ostriches.html
6. https://www.owlworlds.com/
7. https://www.livescience.com/28071-parrots.html
8. https://www.britannica.com/animal/woodpecker
9. https://twootz.com/bird/Magpie
10. https://www.livescience.com/52716-crows-ravens.html
11. https://brainly.co.id/tugas/51008948
12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_blackbird
13. https://ecology.gpntb.ru/eng/exhibition/exibits_2021/exibits_2534/
14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DJ45Yc3urg&list=RDQMR6VGpD  SsG78&start_radio=1
15. https://мо-город-удачный.рф/?page_id=15741
16. http://eurasia-assembly.org/en/news/eurasian-peoples-assembly-and-vernadsky-non-governmental-ecological-foundation-signed-agreement
17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLCSTn6_uU0