As you probably all have guessed, I really like birds. I not only have a pet lovebird named Jaws, but I have a bird feeder "station" in my backyard to attract lots of wildbirds. The feeder station is basically a big pole that has four different bird feeders hanging from it. I have out nectar for hummingbirds, peanuts for chickadees, oak titmice, and nuthatches, thistle for the goldfinch, and sunflower seeds for the finches. The birds are constantly trying to find a spot on one of the feeders, they compete for seed. But they are not the only ones... The squirrels really love the peanuts and always try to break into the feeder. They have knocked down my feeders many times. You can see some pictures in the slide show to the right that were all taken near my bird feeders. I almost have as many pictures of squirrels as I do of birds.
Stores actually sell feeders that are supposed to be squirrel proof. One is the Yankee Flipper by Droll Yankees. When a bird sits on the perch, they can get seed out of the seed ports. But when a squirrel, who is much heavier, sits on or hangs on the perch, it pulls a little covering down over the seed ports. The squirrels then are unable to get any seed. Here is a picture of the feeder with a squirrel being flipped and not getting any seed.
What part of Darwin's theory does this demonstrate? Explain how this relates to what we have learned in class about evolution, natural selection, fitness, etc.
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The different breeds of birds receiving the variety of food types from the bird "station" relates to Darwin's theory of evolution because only certain birds can eat certain foods. Nectar is for a hummingbird because a hummingbird's beak is designed to be long to reach inside the flower to obtain the food (yet in this case it's from a bird feeder which is helpful). A bird is classified from it's beak on what to eat defined by it's shape. This is related to what we learned in class by survival of the fittest because thanks to the ability of having beaks, they can survive and reproduce for the environment that is more suited for them.
ReplyDeleteThe bird feeders present new ways for squirrels to get food. According to Darwin's theory, the squirrels that are able to adapt to this method of feeding are the fittest. Because they are able to get more food and thus thrive and grow stronger, their offspring will be stronger and likely even be taught by their parents how to get food from the feeders. When enough of the squirrels in the area are ones that have adapted, it is possible that the squirrels that haven't learned this method of feeding will be pushed out of the area by the larger, adapted ones.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting a link to my blog. Your students may be interested to note that birds really do have to learn how to use bird feeders. When the "winter finches" such as the redpolls show up at the feeder in the video they have no idea how to use it. They come from up in the boreal forest where there are no bird feeders. They simply congregate under the feeder and eat the seeds the squirrels and other birds spill. Within a month or so some of the redpolls figure it out and start to use the feeders while others never figure it out and stay on the ground.
ReplyDeleteThe different bird feeders and birds receiving food from the bird feeders all demonstrate the struggle for existence, survival for the fittest and natural selection of Darwin's theory. The squirrels trying to get the peanuts form the bird feeder that belong to the chickadees represents the squirrel's struggle for existence, because they are trying to get the food that doesn't belong to them to survive. The squirrel's also adapting and getting used to the way they get food from the bird feeders represents survival of the fittest. They are clearly the fittest because they have to work hard to get food from the bird feeders, which aren't designed for them.
ReplyDeleteThe squirrel in the video demonstrates Darwin's idea of "Survival of the Fittest". Survival of the fittest is when an individual can survive and reproduce in an environment. If the individual, in this case a squirrel, is able to survive, then it is "fit". As Kelly said, the squirrels adapted and were able to eat from the supposedly squirrel-proof bird feeder. This also relates to the Struggle for Existence. Because these squirrels have adapted to eating from a bird feeder, it creates competition between themselves and the birds for survival.
ReplyDeleteDarwin's theory of more suited survive is true. I can see that what ever obstacle people put for squirrels they find a way to get to the seeds. This is interesting how it works, because if you don't think of how to eat you will never eat. The little sons of the most smarter squirrels will later get this same trait that later will help them to survive.
ReplyDeleteThis shows survival of the fittest. The squirrel that is most fit gets the food from the bird feeder. This also shows the struggle for existence, where the squirrel that cannot get the bird feeder may not survive. According to Darwin, natural selection will act on the squirrel who is not addapted to their environment and cannot get the food.
ReplyDeleteThis video relates to Darwin's ideas of struggle for existence and survival of the fittest. The squirells are competing with the birds that are supposed to be eating the seeds. Compared to other squirells, the ones that are more "fit" to acrobatic positions will benefit from the birdfeeder. Squirells that cannot compete with the birds or other squirrles will have to find other means of finding food.
ReplyDelete