For The BirdsJoanne Quaglia1One of the simplest pleasures in life is watching birds as they fly through the sky. It is a great way to observe nature. They zip from tree to tree and sing beautiful songs. One of the best things about bird watching is that you can do it right at home. By creating a bird friendly environment in your backyard with birdhouses, bird feeders, and plenty of trees, shrubs, and flowers that attract birds, you will have front-row seats to nature year-round.2To get started, first decide which kinds of feathered creatures you want to attract. They will have to be birds that are common to your area. You will not likely attract seagulls, birds that live near water, if you live high atop a mountain. Next, find out which plants different bird species like to eat. For example, hummingbirds love flowers that provide nectar, a sweet, sugary liquid found deep inside flowers. To attract hummingbirds, plant petunias or hibiscuses, since these are good sources of nectar.3Learning the food habits of the birds you want to attract is important. Many types of trees, shrubs, and plants produce fruits, berries, acorns, and nuts that serve as food sources for birds. Before planting anything, the first thing you should do is talk to an expert at your local garden center to find out which trees, shrubs, and wildflowers are native to your area. This will ensure that anything you plant will adapt well to the climate and will grow nicely to meet birds' needs.4Aside from planting, a bird feeder is also an excellent way to attract birds to your backyard and to supply food. A bird feeder contains seeds or bird food. It is a good idea to have more than one bird feeder since different types of birds eat different foods. For example, finches and sparrows love seeds, while woodpeckers and orioles prefer fruits and berries. Having different types of feeders that provide a variety of foods will attract many birds to your backyard.5Birds enjoy a day at the spa to relax and refresh as much as you do. Consider adding a birdbath to your backyard to attract birds. Birds will love having a source of clean, fresh water to drink and a place where they can clean up after a long flight. Always keep the birdbath clean and replace the water often to avoid attracting mosquitoes that can carry diseases.6Since you will have plenty of birds around your backyard from all of your efforts, they will need shelter. Birdhouses are perfect for this purpose. Birdhouses protect birds from enemies such as the neighbor's cat and provide shelter from severe weather such as extreme heat or cold. Birds also build nests in trees, shrubs, and tall grass.7Remember that you can observe birds year-round. Though many birds migrate to warmer climates when temperatures drop, others remain throughout the cold season. For instance, the blue jay is one of the most beautiful winter birds. Since food is difficult to find outdoors in the winter, keep your birdfeeders well stocked if you live in a colder climate. In addition, plant trees and shrubs that provide food to your feathered friends when temperatures drop.QuestionWhich sentence from the passage is the BEST example of the author's attempt to develop interest and engage his audience?ResponsesA By creating a bird friendly environment in your backyard with birdhouses, bird feeders, and plenty of trees, shrubs, and flowers that attract birds, you will have front-row seats to nature year-round.By creating a bird friendly environment in your backyard with birdhouses, bird feeders, and plenty of trees, shrubs, and flowers that attract birds, you will have front-row seats to nature year-round.B Many types of trees, shrubs, and plants produce fruits, berries, acorns, and nuts that serve as food sources for birds.Many types of trees, shrubs, and plants produce fruits, berries, acorns, and nuts that serve as food sources for birds.C In addition, plant trees and shrubs that provide food to your feathered friends when temperatures drop.In addition, plant trees and shrubs that provide food to your feathered friends when temperatures drop.D It is a good idea to have more than one bird feeder since different types of birds eat different foods.It is a good idea to have more than one bird feeder since different types of birds eat different foods.

Source: US Fish and Wildlife ServiceThe first step in bird identification is learning to observe. Watch, listen, and record your observations in a journal using descriptive words and sketches, or photograph birds to capture a permanent, detailed image that you can study later.If you are just starting to watch birds, consider familiarizing yourself with the ones that you see daily. What are their general characteristics? Are they big or small, colorful or drab? Do they sit still or flit from branch to branch? Then, try comparing new birds that you see with the common birds that you already know. Is your new discovery the size of a sparrow, a robin, or a crow? Is its bill short or long, hooked or straight?Learning the basic form and structure, or morphology, of a bird will help you to make comparisons of birds. Concentrate on the shape and size of the beak, including the relative size of the upper and lower beak; length of the outer tail feathers, upper tail coverts, and throat; and the coloration of the crown and breast. It will also help you to think about the types of habitat in which you are most likely to find specific birds, since the birds that you see may be migratory and will only be in your area at a specific time of the year.Some people can identify a bird just by its song or call. Once you start to listen to the calls around you, you will start to learn them, too. Do you know any memory devices that could help you recall a song or call and identify the bird associated with it? Can you distinguish differences in rhythm, pitch, tone, and repetition?Studying the behavior of a bird is also often helpful in identifying it. Knowing characteristic bird behavior can be an important aspect of bird conservation and management, since erratic behavior can signal a stressed or unhealthy bird. Because birds move around a lot, they can be vulnerable to a variety of different threats. 6. There are many resources to help new bird watchers, or "birders," learn to identify different birds. If you are already a seasoned birder, try to find ways to encourage other people, of all ages, to get hooked on birding, and whatever resources you use to identify birds around you, just remember that the most important thing is to have fun!13Select the correct answer from the drop-down menu.What information in the text is emphasized most by the image?The image mostly emphasizes information in paragraph .Reset Next

Why does the free bird think of ‘another breeze’? *5 pointsanother breeze suggests a desire for new experiences and the freedom to explore different environmentsanother breeze suggests a longing for new weather and change of sceneryanother breeze suggests a desire for an easy simple life

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Pigeons, or rock doves, originally built their nests on rocky ridges and cliffs.Today, pigeons prefer nesting on hard surfaces like concrete, marble, and stone.Urban environments are abundant with nesting opportunities for pigeons, like AC units, fire escapes, and the tops of statues.The use of insecticides eliminated apex predators, such as falcons and hawks, that hunted pigeons in cities.The pigeon population in New York City got so large that the city hired a professional falconer in 2003 to drive them away.The student wants to make and support a generalization about pigeons. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?While pigeons originally built their nests on cliffs, they have since found an affinity for nesting on concrete, marble, and stone.eliminatePigeons thrive in urban environments because of the lack of apex predators and an opportunity to build nests in environments similar to rocky ridges and cliffs.eliminateWith the elimination of apex predators in New York City, the city hired a professional falconer in 2003 to control the pigeon population.eliminateUrban environments, which have an abundance of nesting opportunities like AC units, fire escapes, and tops of statues, are ideal for birds like pigeons. eliminateScratch BoardDo your scratch work hereClear00:09:232021222324252627

The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he names the sky his own.

Why does the free bird think of ‘another breeze’?