Faces 2020-10

Bird
is the

Word

OCTOBER 2020 EDITOR Elizabeth Crooker
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FEATURES Pg 24 Pg 8

8 Beautiful Birds: A Lesson Pg 16
in Diversity
by Mary Rudzinski Pg 42

12 Bird of Fire: Looking for Check out our
the Phoenix online teacher’s guides at
by Marcia Amidon Lusted
WWW.CRICKETMEDIA.COM/
16 Caring for Wounded TEACHER-RESOURCES/
Winged Friends
by Deepa Jain

20 Quote the Raven:
Nevermore
by Susan Berk Koch

24 Do the Crane Dance
by Erin K. Schonauer and
Jamie C. Schonauer

30 Port Lockroy: Where
Penguins are Your
Nearest Neighbors
by Rebecca Szulhan

42 Birds of Philippine Myth
retold by Felinda Villamor Bagas

DEPARTMENTS Pg 12

2 High 5
4 At A Glance
6 Critter Corner
19 Where in the World?
34 Dear Kylie
38 A Closer Look
40 For the Birds Crossword
46 Art Connection
48 Say What?
49 One Last Face

ACTIVITIES

27 An Eggcellent Activity
28 Make Your Yard

Bird-friendly!

Pg 30

HIGH FIVE

A flock of migrating Canada
geese make a “V” formation
as they fly at sunset.

Honk if you hear me!

IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE . . . no, you were right
the first time. It’s a bird. Birds are some of the
most diverse creatures on Earth with almost 10,000
different species. Some fly, some run. Some have
stunning, colorful feathers. Others are plain. What
kind of birds live in your area? Here are five feathered
facts to get you started.

2

1bWhen a meteor struck Earth about 66 million years ago, it wiped
out the dinosaurs and most tree birds. However, some ground birds
similar to ducks, chickens, and ostriches survived. These species
thrived and evolved into the many species we see today.

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cycle would begin again.

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object to manipulate something else. Crows shape tools and insert
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a year. It has evolved so that it can drink, eat, and sleep on the wing.

3

AT A GLANCE A BIRD’S EYE VIEW—OF A BIRD!

by Kathiann M. Kowalski Birds are built for flight—and many other tasks.

Word Help Wings
0RVW ELUG ZLQJV KDYH D
Struts are bars or braces used for curved airfoil shape. Air
must move faster over the
support. curved top. Air pressure
above the wing becomes
Talons are very sharp claws. lower than that below,
which provides lift.
Drag is air resistance, which is a

form of friction that slows down a
moving body.

Feathers
Different feathers do different jobs.
Downy feathers provide warmth.
Contour feathers protect against wind
and water.
6WLII VPRRWK ĠLJKW IHDWKHUV UHGXFH
GUDJ GXULQJ ĠLJKW 0DQ\ FURVVZLVH
barbs stem out from the shaft.
Tiny barbules hook barbs together.
Preening keeps birds’ feathers clean
and neat.

Tail
The tail helps birds keep their
EDODQFH DQG VWHHU GXULQJ ĠLJKW
It also reduces drag.

Legs
Birds stand and walk on two legs.

Feet
Feet show special adaptations. For example, ducks have
webbed feet. Falcons have sharp talons. Climbing birds
usually have two toes facing front and two facing back.

4

Brain Eyes
Yes, bird brains are small. But
inside the head they’re command Keen eyesight and a wide
central for a bird’s many activities.
range of vision help birds
Beak
Birds have lightweight beaks— ğQG IRRG This is a bird’s
sometimes called bills— eye view.
instead of teeth and jaws. The
jobs that a beak does depend
on a bird’s food. Some beaks
crack seeds or nuts. Others
tear meat, grab insects, or
VFRRS ğVK RXW RI ZDWHU

Ears
Birds’ ears
are inside
their heads.

Syrinx
A bird’s songs come
from its syrinx. It’s
at the base of the
windpipe near the
meeting place for air
tubes to each lung.

Nares
Nares work as a bird’s nostrils. Birds
vary in how well they can smell.

Bones
Hollow bones with struts inside
are strong, yet lightweight. Air
sacs connected to bones also
keep weight light.

5

CRITTER CORNER Leftovers
again?

The lappet-faced vulture is
the largest vulture in Africa.

VULTURES

UNLIKELY SUPERHEROES OF THE ECOSYSTEM

by Pat Betteley

Agazelle, weakened by disease, stumbles and dies on the
African savanna. If the cholera bacteria it carries reaches the
nearby water hole, the water will become contaminated and
sicken other animals that drink there. Enter the lappet-faced
vulture. (A lappet is a hanging piece of flesh.) With a wingspan of
nearly 10 feet and weighing up to 22 pounds, this vulture is the largest in
Africa. Powerful enough to drive off a hungry jackal, the vulture tears
into the gazelle’s hide and tough tendons. It can eat skin and break
bones with its large, strong beak. Being bald helps keep the bird clean.
When it shakes off remaining bits of food, the sun will bake off any
bacteria and parasites from the carcass. Urinating on its feet and legs
also helps kill bacteria and cool off the bird on hot summer days.

6

The Ruppell’s Griffon six to seven Scientists think nutrients
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FULWLFDOO\ HQGDQJHUHG soaring at great (J\SWLDQ YXOWXUH LWV
altitudes. It \HOORZ IDFH
A smaller, weaker Egyptian swoops down
vulture has soared on an updraft near the rotting Wyohua’tr’es tchaartrion?
from across the Mediterranean meat and runs
Sea. This vulture nests on rock with its wings the vulture could fly when one
ledges. It has a hard time spread and unlucky bird was sucked into
flapping its wings during takeoff. neck extended the engine of an airplane flying
Instead, it flies best by soaring toward its meal, at 36,100 feet.
from a high location. It must sometimes
wait until the more powerful climbing into More than 50% of all vulture
vultures are gone before it can the ribcage to eat. The stomach species are declining. Although
pick at what’s left of the dead acid of a vulture has the lowest the birds can digest natural
animal with its curved beak. The pH in the natural kingdom, wastes, they cannot digest man-
Egyptian vulture has a yellowish- allowing it to digest diseased made chemicals. Some drugs
orange, featherless face with a carrion without being affected. used to treat cattle kill vultures.
collar of spiked feathers around Its “stomach of steel” removes Since the 1990s, toxic pesticides,
its neck. Scientists think nutrients tiny organisms such as anthrax, poisoned meat, electricity
from animal dung give its face botulism, and tuberculosis from towers, habitat loss, and decline
the distinctive color. This clever the African ecosystem. If in food sources have been
carnivore uses rocks as tools, threatened, the vulture can endangering vultures. In
dropping them on tough ostrich vomit to lighten its body weight. Nigeria, the birds are hunted
eggs to crack them for dinner. This helps it escape predators because their parts are used in
Ancient Egyptians valued the that are discouraged by the traditional practices.
vulture, including it in their smelly, skin-burning acid.
alphabet and displaying it on Known for being the highest- Some communities are
monuments. flying bird in the world, the realizing the importance of
Ruppell’s Griffon vulture can fly vultures. They are banning
Soaring high overhead, a efficiently despite lack of air drugs that harm the birds and
Ruppell’s Griffon vulture spots pressure and low oxygen supply. opening vulture “restaurants”
the carcass. This vulture spends Scientists realized just how high where farmers can get rid of
drug-free livestock. They know
VULTURE that the acid-puking vulture is
actually a superhero, battling
VOCABULARY: disease and turning death into
life to make our planet
»A group of vultures is healthier.

called a committee, 7
venue, or volt.

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vultures is a kettle.

»A group of birds

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carcass is called a
wake.

Beautiful
by Mary Rudzinski

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8

Birds
A LESSON IN DIVERSITY

A mong living creatures, birds are the poster animal
for diversity with almost 10,000 different species. All
birds have feathers and beaks, but they lay eggs like
reptiles and are warm-blooded like mammals. Some
birds fly, and others walk, run, or even swim. Every
kind of bird is different in size and color, diet, and breeding habits.
Birds also live on every continent. Recently, scientists have studied
fossils, living birds, and bird genes to determine why so many unique
species of birds exist.
Sixty-six million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous Period, a
giant meteor hit our planet, causing a mass extinction. Most plants
and animals, including dinosaurs and tree birds, vanished. However,
some ground birds, similar to ducks, chickens, and ostriches, escaped
the disaster. These cousins of the dinosaur did not just survive; they
thrived and evolved into the bird species we see today.

9

Here’s a sneak Baby Robins
beak!

Hummingbird TFarwognmy outh

Western Sandpipers

Getting the Edge believe flight helped some birds
reach new homes, but then became
Birds had the edge in evolution for several unnecessary because the food was plentiful
reasons. Most birds lay several eggs, which and there were few predators.
increases their chances of survival. Some bird
species, such as the black sparrow hawk of Strange and Unusual
South Africa, build more than one nest each
mating season, while other birds, like mourning As birds evolved and adapted over millions of
doves, breed year-round. years, unusual species developed. For example,
320 different hummingbirds now exist, and most
Many birds also have the advantage of live in warm climates. However, the Ecuadorian
growing at a supercharged pace. For example, hillstar hummingbird lives and finds food along
woodpeckers are adult size within three to four cold mountain slopes. The Australian tawny
weeks. Bald eagles are mature enough to leave frogmouth is one of 15 different kinds of
the nest in three months. frogmouth birds. It eats insects, slugs, snails,
small mammals, reptiles, and even other birds.
Compared to other animals, birds are highly The tawny frogmouth does not have sharp talons
intelligent. Their brains are rather large for to kill prey like an owl, but instead bashes its food
their bodies. Brainpower helps birds adapt to a against rocks. The guacharo, or oil bird, of South
changing world. Some species can even use tools. America, builds nests within caves using its vomit
and feces. It also uses echolocation like a bat to
Most birds have the power of flight, which navigate and find food at night. The smell of the
became key to their survival. Flying allowed Amazonian hoatzin (what-sin) is so bad it drives
birds to search further for food, migrate with away enemies, and it supposedly does not taste
the change in seasons, escape danger, and find very good. All these species developed different
new homes. Oddly, the ability to fly gradually characteristics to survive.
disappeared for more than 60 species of birds,
including emus and kiwis. Instead of flying,
penguins swim and ostriches run. Scientists

10

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Spa$rProEHwaULs,FtCDeaQrr n*dBRinOlaGulğe,bQaiFnrKdd, Birds have also played a part in religion,
celebrations, folklore, and myths. Doves represent
Birds and Man peace and a spiritual presence among Christians,
whereas peacock feathers symbolize good luck
Since the beginning of humanity, birds have been and prosperity for Hindus. For the ancient
a part of everyday life. Birds have provided food, Greeks, the owl represented Athena, the Greek
clothing, bedding, and even tools. Many native goddess of wisdom. The Aztecs pictured their god
cultures followed birds to locate other food such Huitzilopochtli (wee-tsee-loh-pohch-tlee) as a
as fish and honey. They used falconry for hunting. hummingbird, the fierce and tiny bird that
The Maori of New Zealand made ceremonial robes protects its nest from other birds. They believed
with colorful feathers, and Native American tribes that when a warrior fell in battle, he would
crafted elaborate feather headdresses. Papua New be reincarnated as a hummingbird and live
Guinea tribes made weapons and tools from the in paradise.
bones and claws of the cassowary bird.
Throughout history, extraordinary birds
FAST FACTS have captured our imaginations and respect
and added meaning to our lives. Their ability
»The retina of the oil bird contains more to change and adjust to their surroundings led
to incredible diversity. Each species of bird we
than one million rods per millimeter, see today developed unique traits to survive. In
more than any other vertebrate. Their doing so, birds showed us the power of adapting
eyes process low light better than those and the importance of diversity in our world.
of any other bird.
Mary Rudzinski is a writer, traveler, and teacher who lives
»The wandering albatross is exceptionally in Michigan. She spends her free time outdoors listening to
the birds.
slow in reproducing and growing. It
WDNHV WKH ORQJHVW WLPH WR ĠHGJH RI DQ\ 11
bird—280 days. They raise one chick at
a time.

»The kea bird of New Zealand demonstrates

an ability to use tools, which makes them
one of the smartest birds on the planet.

» 1HZ =HDODQG LV KRPH WR ĠLJKWOHVV

bird species, the greatest concentration
in the world.

Looking for the Phoenix

by Marcia Amidon Lusted

12

ne of the most memorable
creatures in the Harry Potter books
is Fawkes, the bird who lives in
Professor Dumbledore’s office.
One day Fawkes goes up in flames,
much to Harry’s consternation,
only to be reborn as a chick out of
the ashes. One of Fawkes’ feathers
is in Harry’s wand, and his tears cure the bite of
the poisonous basilisk. Fawkes isn’t a product
of the author’s imagination, however. He is a
phoenix, one of the best-known and enduring
mythological creatures.

13

The phoenix is known for its version of the phoenix legend on a cure that was only available
ability to die and then come back doesn’t include the ability of the once every 500 years.
to life as a new creature. It is a bird to die in a fire and be reborn,
symbol of renewal and rebirth, but it does describe how the bird The phoenix legend passed
and its legend goes back to the lived for 500 years. However, a into other cultures. The Romans
ancient Egyptians and Arabs. For later Greek writer scoffed at Greek saw the phoenix as a symbol of
the Egyptians, the phoenix was doctors who claimed that many how the Roman Empire was
associated with the worship of the illnesses could be cured using eternal and returned with every
sun. It was described as being as phoenix ashes. He commented new emperor. They even put the
large as an eagle, with brilliant, that it wasn’t very effective to rely image of the phoenix on their
shining gold and scarlet feathers, coins. With the rise of
and a beautiful, musical cry. Nsmowoldthearitn’sgagaze.
There was only one phoenix, and Harry Potter’s
it lived from 500 to 1,500 years, wand contains
depending on the version of the a feather from
legend. When the phoenix Fawkes.
became old and tired, it would fly
to the Egyptian city of Heliopolis,
known as “the city of the sun,”
where the Temple of the Sun was
located. Atop the temple, it would
build a nest of sticks of
cinnamon, resin, and other
spices. Then the sun would set the
nest on fire, and the old phoenix
would die in the flames. A new,
young phoenix would emerge
from the ashes of the fire, and its
life cycle would begin again.

Hundreds of years later, a
Greek historian and traveler
named Herodotus brought the
phoenix legend to the Western
world. He wrote of visiting the
Temple of the Sun and talking
with the priests, who told him
about the phoenix. Herodotus’

14

Christianity as a religion, the

legend of the phoenix with its

rebirth and eternal life fit well

with Christian teachings about

Jesus and his resurrection.

Other cultures around the

world have their own versions of

the phoenix. Russian mythology

has the firebird (Zhar-ptitsa).

Unlike the phoenix, the firebird’s

death and rebirth follow the

cycle of seasons, with death

happening in the fall

and rebirth in the

spring. Hindu

mythology has the Many cultures
include a version
garuda, a creature of the mythical
phoenix.
with a mixture of bird
other books, especially science
and human features. to Earth. After fiction and fantasy, include the
phoenix as a character or a
Its body is gold, its wings 7KH ğHU\ ELUG being discriminated symbol. The phoenix is also
are red, and its face is was featured against, she bursts into a common mascot for schools
white. Vishna rides it, and on Greek coins. flames to return to her and sports teams.

it represents birth and heaven. original world. In the X-Men The phoenix is just one of
many animals that are so
The Chinese phoenix, called movies, the character Jean Grey, much a part of popular culture
that, like the unicorn and the
Fenghuang, is also immortal. who was thought to have died, dragon, resemble real creatures.
But while there are hundreds of
It is said to have been a good eventually reappears as the new stories about the phoenix, no
one has ever actually seen one.
omen of harmony when a character Phoenix. In addition to However, like Bigfoot and the
Loch Ness monster, there is
new emperor took the throne. the Harry Potter books, many always the possibility that
somewhere, the phoenix is
If it is seen, it is a symbol of In Egyptian just waiting to be discovered.
world peace. myths, the
phoenix lived
The phoenix continues to 500 to 1,500
be a symbol in popular culture, years before
especially in books and music. dying and
The longest music video in emerging as
history, “Runaway” by Kanye a new, young
phoenix.

West, tells the story of a

phoenix that has fallen

15

CARING
FOR
WOUNDED
WINGED
FRIENDS

by Deepa Jain

16

EW DELHI, India’s
sprawling capital,

Nabounds with birds.

Pigeons and doves coo and
flutter around rooftops. Black
kites shriek as they soar across
the sky. Crows and parakeets
jostle for scraps. Strutting
peacocks and sunbathing
hoopoes also call this concrete
jungle their home.

A girl brings But life for these birds is filled with peril. Every
her pet parrot year, glass-covered strings (called manja,
to the center pronounced MAAN-jha) used in kite-fighting
for care. matches slash the wings of thousands of birds,
maiming them. Dozens are brutally attacked by
cats and dogs. In addition, many birds get
bacterial or fungal diseases or are malnourished.

Most injured or diseased birds die. But every
day, kind-hearted individuals and rescue
organizations bring about 60 of these avian
patients to the Charity Birds Hospital. With the
hospital’s high recovery rate of 80%, these birds
are the lucky ones.

The hospital was founded in 1929 by followers
of the ancient Indian religion Jainism. Initially,
it was a single room in a residential house. The
hospital has expanded into a three-story building
within the premises of a Jain temple. On every
floor, birds in various stages of treatment and
recovery are housed in cages. They are fed a

17

An attendant Gulp! A bird is
looks after given water
pigeons in the through a
general ward. bottle.

pay for their care. Instead,

the treatment is funded by

donations. Some people

give money. Others provide

customized mix of seeds, grains and medicines or

grains, corn, tomatoes, and volunteer to feed and pet

peppers. Numbering about the birds.

2,500 at a time, the birds are The rationale behind

nursed by a small team of the Charity Birds Hospital

qualified technical staff. A pigeon injured by kite strings receives care. is the Jain principle of

Most patients are pigeons, ahimsa (uh-HIM-suh), or

doves, and parakeets. Rarer cases include nonviolence. According to this, Jains should not

peacocks, owls, and even swans. The majority harm, but instead, should help any living creature,

of victims have suffered collisions—with ceiling big or small. This is because they consider all forms

fans, vehicles, low-hanging electricity wires, and of life sacred. This is even shown in a mural in the

manja. These birds suffer from broken bones and hospital, which depicts a king offering his limbs

wings. Like human patients, to a hawk to save a pigeon from

slings are used to support the its clutches.

fractures. FAST FACTS The hospital also aids pet birds.
Another problem is New But those that are admitted aren’t
»  Jainism calls for its returned to their owners. Instead,
Delhi’s polluted winter air, they are freed. This is in keeping
which affects some birds’ followers to lead a with the Jain principle that every
lungs. Others get gut infections simple life. Jains creature has a right to be free.
from eating garbage. In both should not become
cases, the patients are given attached to material The hospital has managed
medicines. things. Outside India, to save some critically injured
the largest population birds. One such case was a
What makes this hospital so of Jains is in the sparrow that had been badly
special is that it treats injured United States. burned. The little bird was packed
street birds for free. Good in ice and treated with painkillers
Samaritans who bring in these »  Another organization and antibiotics. For months, the
injured birds do not have to
that treats birds
18 cost-free is Wildlife
Rescue, also in New
Delhi. It tends to birds
of prey, mainly black
kites. It cares for birds
the Charity Birds
Hospital cannot
properly handle.

team toiled tirelessly. Another problem is

Thanks to their efforts, that terminally ill birds

the sparrow survived. cannot be put down,

But the Charity because of the hospital’s

Birds Hospital has ahimsa principle. Such

some challenges. One birds may have cancer

is that Jains are strict or failing organs. They

vegetarians. They may suffer for days or

cannot even touch Charity Birds Hospital was founded in 1929. weeks.
meat in sacred areas, Nonetheless, the

such as within temple Charity Birds Hospital

premises. Because of this, injured birds of prey, has helped save countless birds. Every Saturday,

like hawks and owls, cannot be fed meat, their birds that have recovered are released from the

natural diet. Instead, they are given protein-rich rooftop. Many often return. Possibly they come

vegetarian substitutes like cheese. This has been to meet their caretakers. Or they may return just

decried by bird lovers as cruel and unnatural. for the free food and water offered on the roof

One critic compared the hospital’s feeding policy terrace. Or maybe, as one vet says, “some birds

to “feeding grass to a lion.” just don’t want to leave.”

WHERE in the World?

Do you know Aonnspwaegreis48.
where our friend
Globey is enjoying 19
his copy of FACES?

Here is a hint: Sometimes these ducks wear apparel featuring their
city’s sports teams, including the Red Sox and the Bruins.

_N e v e r m o r eQUOTE THE RAVEN:
by Susan Berk Koch
20

_Caw!_Caw!

Look up, and you may see a crow. the only completely black birds are
According to myth, that means the crow and the raven. Is their
death is near. Seeing three crows reputation deserved?
means health, and seeing four
means wealth. But five crows? REPUTATION AND MYTH
Sickness is coming.
According to Greek mythology, the
Black, mysterious, and often raven was once silver and beautiful.
seen in groups, crows and ravens A bird needed to give Apollo, the
don’t have lovely singing voices. Greek god of the sun, bad news.
They are bold and brassy and Apollo became angry and scorched
smart. Yet, people associate them the bird, turning it black. In Norse
with dark things. Out of the 810 mythology, ravens were the
species of North American birds, messengers of Odin, father of

21

Odin’s pair of ravens rest on his shoulders. In the 1600s, plague doctors world and the next. They are
wore masks that had a long beak believed to help the deceased
the gods. Odin’s pair of ravens stuffed with dried flowers and cross over.
journeyed across the world, herbs to protect themselves.
bringing messages from The Tibetans held a similar
their master. FACTS BREED MYTHS belief—they once placed pieces of
bodies on top of temples so that
Aboriginal tribes believe Ravens and crows are carrion crows could carry them to the
crows are tricksters, but also that eaters. Carrion is dead, decaying next life.
they brought fire to the Earth. flesh of animals that often serves
as a food source for scavengers. In BRAIN POWER
Most myths agree that a human’s early history, dead bodies TO CROW ABOUT
black bird is always bringing were not buried. It was common to
a message. see large black birds feeding on the In the classic Aesop’s fable, a
corpses. They also circled ancient thirsty crow wanted water from a
MIDDLE AGES battlefields, waiting for their next pitcher. He filled it with pebbles
meal. Because of this association to raise the water level to drink.
Superstitions about ravens and with death, crows and ravens Aesop didn’t choose a crow for
crows didn’t stop in the Middle gained a bad reputation. Edgar his fable at random. Crows and
Ages. Sorcerers and witches used Allan Poe’s The Raven built on this ravens are part of a group of
crow’s feet to cast death spells. mystique, furthering the birds’ birds called corvids. Corvids are
This enhanced the idea that black negative image. highly intelligent.
birds were symbols of bad luck.
Yet not all myths about crows Crows shape tools and
Even today, a beak mask is a and ravens are negative. Some insert them into trees and
symbol of the Black Death, one of Native American cultures see logs to extract grubs. Ravens
the worst plagues in human history. crows as a positive symbol, systematically drop nuts onto
This pandemic struck Europe and believing the crow acts as a highways, so cars will drive over
Asia in the 14th century. At the communicator between this them and crack the shells. They
time, doctors believed the disease even wait until the light turns
was spread by “miasma,” a noxious
form of “bad air.” Ravens on the lookout
for their next meal.

22

Most crows live
between seven
and eight years.

Murder! Murder! Hsmeta’sarkdg.oranveen

red and walk in the crosswalks Crows and ravens are flexible in have an easier time finding food
alongside human pedestrians than creatures with more restricted
to collect their prizes. their eating, too. Like humans, diets. This can help scavengers
better adapt to new environments
SOCIAL ANIMALS they are omnivores, meaning than other organisms.

Earliest human ancestors and they eat both plants and animals. CONCLUSION
earliest crow species appeared at
around the same time—five to 10 Because most scavengers are Crows and ravens have been
million years ago. During that around for millions of years.
time, there was a lot of climate flexible about what they eat, they Because of their intelligence
change. Ice ages blossomed, and and adaptability, they may
with them, food disappeared. FAST FACTS be around for millions more.
Forests flipped to scrubland, and
scrubland became grassland. The »The Black Death was Members of the American
seesaw environment probably Society of Crows and Ravens
nudged the evolution of humans not caused by bad air, like to quote American writer
and crows. Social living became but by a bacterium. and abolitionist Henry Ward
part of the key to survival. Fleas carrying the Beecher, who said, “If men had
bacteria jumped to wings and bore black feathers,
The “social intelligence humans and infected few of them would be clever
hypothesis” proposes that them. enough to be crows.”
intelligence
evolved »Scavengers serve a Crows and ravens may be
because of the black, but instead of spooky,
need to keep purpose in the food dark, and evil, why not think of
track of other chain. Without them them as silky, sleek, and smart?
individuals eating the bodies of Perhaps we need to change our
and what dead animals, the opinion about these shrewd,
they were bodies would rot and savvy birds, forevermore.
doing in the spread disease.
group. Scavengers help keep Author Susan Berk Koch blogs about
the ecosystem science and animals and books for kids.
A plague doctor healthy. She has three sons and a wild boxer
wears a long beak named Louie, who always gets his way.
thought to protect »Crows are one of the She’s had a Moluccan cockatoo and
him from “bad air.” several parrots, and she often imagines
few nonmammals ZKDW LW ZRXOG EH OLNH WR Ġ\
that use tools,
fashioning an object 23
to manipulate
something else. Nest
building does not
qualify.

»In Edgar Allan Poe’s

famous poem The
Raven, the bird
messenger perches,
“upon a bust of Pallas.”
Athena, the Greek
goddess of wisdom,
was sometimes
nicknamed “Pallas
Athena.” Poe was
giving us a hint
about the raven’s
intelligence.

»A group of crows is

called a murder.

CrDaonthee Da
by Erin K. Schonauer and Jamie C. Schonauer

Youthful eyes sparkle from under a come to watch in the courtyard of Gangtey
beaked hood. Graceful arms flap like Monastery, an ancient Buddhist monastery
soaring wings. Squawk-like calls fill the overlooking the Phobjikha (pobe-juh-kuh) Valley.
Gangtey (gahn-tay) Monastery courtyard as The festival was created in 1998 by the Royal
dozens of Bhutanese schoolchildren perform the Society for Protection of Nature when the cranes’
black-necked crane dance. It’s the highlight of the habitat was being threatened. It raises awareness
Black-necked Crane Festival, which celebrates the for the vulnerable species and promotes crane
annual migration of these endangered cranes—a conservation. The joyous celebration takes place
bird of sacred and spiritual significance to the annually on November 11.
Bhutanese.
Before the celebration begins, schoolchildren
The tsechu (tay-chew), or festival, takes place in and locals wait for their winged guests to arrive.
Bhutan, a tiny country located between China Every year in late October, majestic black-necked
and India. During the festival, schoolchildren cranes migrate from the Tibetan Plateau to the
perform for hundreds of locals and visitors who wetlands of Bhutan’s Phobjikha Valley. These

Spectators gather to cranes are considered sacred
celebrate the Crane birds. Buddhists in Bhutan
Festival. believe the cranes are
heavenly messengers and
avatars of deceased
ancestors and family
members. Around 300
cranes, with vibrant red
crowns, black necks, and up
to an eight-foot wingspan,
come to roost. They eat
dwarf bamboo, insects,
snails, and fish in the rural
valley.

24

nce

A colorfully-dressed
performer takes part
in a special dance.

25

Women, men, and Masks and vibrant
children all have clothing are worn by
speical roles in the performers.
festivities.

Upon arrival, the cranes circle Gangtey Monastery respect the rare black-necked crane.

three times. The locals regard this unique arrival as a The schoolchildren aren’t the only performers.

blessing. Farmers even wait for the cranes to come Stunning masked dancers perform traditional folk

before they plant their winter wheat. They believe the dances. These monks dressed in vibrant costumes,

cranes bless the fields and ensure healthy crops. wear handcrafted masks that portray animals and

After the cranes arrive, it’s time for the festival. Let’s mythical creatures. While dancing, they leap high into

dance! Dozens of Bhutanese schoolchildren between the air displaying strength, agility, and grace.

the ages of nine and 14, dress in crane costumes Additionally, women perform the Thrung Thrung

complete with orange-beaked hoods, black wings, Karmo dance. They sway their arms elegantly like

white tunics, and black leggings. The students from the wings. In Bhutanese culture, the crane, known as

Bayta School bob their heads, flap their winged arms, Thrung Thrung Karm, is a symbol of longevity, good

and flick their legs imitating the gestures of a black- luck, and peace.

necked crane. The children move in circular patterns Other festivities include songs, dramas, and games.

across the courtyard incorporating modern and lively Every half-hour a new act takes the stage. It’s a day for

choreography. Their movements are modeled after the the Bhutanese to express their commitment to the

crane’s dance-like behaviors. sacred bird.

The children dance to a The black-necked cranes roost in the

soundtrack that includes real black- FAST FACTS Phobjikha Valley until February. Then,
necked crane calls. Locals say the the cranes make their journey back to
echoes of crane calls are sources of »A juvenile black-necked the Tibetan Plateau. They do so in
spiritual happiness. Folk music, with their unique style. It’s said the cranes
a modern touch, is also heard during crane named Karma circle Gangtey Monastery three times
their dance. lives at the Black- as they depart. The Bhutanese bid
necked Crane Visitors them a fond farewell. Until next year.
Standing at about four-feet tall Center in Bhutan. A
(about the height of an adult crane), farmer found Karma Erin K. and Jamie C. Schonauer are an
the children give an energetic and with fractures on its identical twin writing team and award-
amusing performance that portrays left wing in 2016. winning authors. They can be reached at
the crane’s life. They help spread the www.twinpens.com.
message to care for, protect, and »Power lines that were

scheduled to be
erected in 2008 in the
Phobjikha Valley were
installed underground
instead to ensure that
the cranes’ migration
path was not disturbed.

26

AEnggceAlclteivnityt Can you match the
bird with the egg from

which it hatched?

Answers are on page 48.

These are
some ttooutrgahck.
eggs

House
Sparrow

a.

Quail

b.

African
Penguin

c.

Greater d.
Roadrunner

Turkey e.

27

by Carollyne Hutter

BMakeiYorurdYa-rd friendly!

Would you
like to have
birds living
in your backyard?
Here are four simple
things you can do.

1 Put out food. Birds need to eat, so put up a bird feeder. There are many types of bird feeders. Some

are trays. Some hang from a tree or attach to a window. You will need to put birdseed in the feeder.
Sunflower seeds are popular with many birds. Peanut butter is good food in winter. Be sure to keep the
feeder clean. (If you live in an area with bears, you should take your feeders down around April 1. You
can put them back up at the end of November.)

28

2 Give them water. Birds need water to drink. 3 Provide a home or materials to make a

They also love to take baths. They like the nest. You can put up a birdhouse or nesting
sound of moving water. You can buy a box. Birds build nests in trees, so having lots
birdbath, or you can set out a large tub or of trees in your yard gives them options. To
big bowl of water. Keep the water clean help birds build nests, you can put out
and change it regularly. nesting materials in a pile. Birds can use
twigs, leaves, grass, feathers, moss, or pine
needles. Don’t leave out plastic or string or
yarn because it can become entangled in the
birds’ feet.

Want more
info?

CaoalrltCanthrbeaolelcuctLktibnaoigbrudbatisrt.todhwrsegw/w.

Syoo,uwgheetntinagre 4 Keep cats away. Cats kill
out?
songbirds. If you have a cat,
keep the cat away from where
birds feed or nest or keep your
cat indoors.

29

PORT LOCKROY:

by Rebecca Szulhan

30

ship sails through the icy waters UKAHT has managed the site
off the Antarctic Peninsula. A small since 2006.

Ateam of employees from the UK These days, Port Lockroy is one
of the most-visited places in
Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT) is on board. Antarctica. More than 14,500
They’re traveling to Goudier Island, where people flocked here during the
they’ll spend the Antarctic summer living 2019-20 season.
and working at Port Lockroy.
DON’T FORGET TO WRITE!
The team will stay at Port PORT LOCKROY PAST
Lockroy from November to AND PRESENT Port Lockroy’s main building is
Bransfield House. Visitors can
March. (When it’s summer in Port Lockroy, Base A, was the first explore the museum, browse in
Antarctica, it’s winter in permanent British base in the gift shop, and send a postcard
North America.) They’ll be Antarctica. It was established from the world-famous post
sharing Goudier Island— during World War II as part of office, which is nicknamed
which is roughly the size Operation Tabarin. It functioned “the Penguin Post Office.”
of a soccer field—with as a scientific research station
approximately 2,000 until it closed in 1962. The Penguin Post Office
gentoo penguins. operates much like Port Lockroy’s
Everyone’s excited to Port Lockroy is now designated first post office did when it
meet their new Historic Site and Monument No. opened in 1944. Mail is
neighbors. 61 under the Antarctic Treaty. It sent by ship to the
opened to the public in 1996. Falkland

A group of
penguins
congregate
at Port
Lockroy.

A penguin on its nest
appears unbothered by
a cruise ship sailing by.

Islands. From there, it travels to Thousands of postcards are mailed each other. Long-lasting tinned
the United Kingdom, and then each year from Port Lockroy’s and dried foods are pantry staples.
to destinations in more than 3HQJXLQ 3RVW 2IğFH The crews of visiting ships often
100 countries. Staff cancel (stamp share fresh food with the team
with a postmark) all the mail by warm and cozy. There’s no and invite them onboard to enjoy
hand. Nearly 60,000 postcards running water, but the hut is a meal, take a hot shower, and
are mailed at the Penguin Post equipped with a camping toilet. do laundry.
Office each year, and staff hand- Fresh water is stored in jerry cans,
stamp every single one. which are refilled when ships Although they’re lovable
visit. A solar-powered system neighbors, penguins can be
HOME SWEET HUT provides electricity. messy. Before visitors arrive at
Port Lockroy, the team scrubs
Staff accommodations are in a Staff take turns cooking for penguin poop, or guano, off
Nissen hut (similar to a Quonset the rocks. Nobody wants
hut). It’s chilly in Antarctica, LOOK AT ITS HEAD: guano on his or her boots.
even in summer, so the building Gentoos have
is insulated to keep the team white patches GENTOOS COMING
above their eyes. THROUGH!
IS IT A GENTOO?
LOOK AT ITS TAIL: Watching the local wildlife is one
Not all penguins look alike, Gentoos have the of the highlights of a trip to Goudier
so how do you know if most prominent Island. To protect the island’s
you’re gazing at a gentoo? tails of any penguin wildlife and environment, visitors
Here are some tips. species. are asked to keep a few guidelines
in mind. For example, they must
LOOK AT walk slowly and stay at least five to
ITS BEAK: 10 meters away from wildlife.
Gentoos
have red-
orange
beaks.

Wpwehanylgkdusoionfstly? Bceacna’tuwsealtkhehyardly!

32

Brush up on
your penguin
facts!

About 2,000 gentoo Keeping them safe. A penguin how many people visit the island.
penguins make their protects the eggs in its nest. A section of Goudier Island is
home on Goudier
Island. a survey of how many gentoo closed to visitors. This is a control
breeding pairs and chicks are area for the penguin study.
It’s important that penguins on the island each year. A Researchers compare data from
are able to follow their usual penguinologist from BAS teaches the colonies in this unvisited area
routes when they waddle around them how to count the nests, eggs, with data from the colonies in the
the island and access the water. and chicks. The team also records area that’s open to the public.
That’s why staff create pathways
for visitors to use. Even on these FAST FACTS “We strongly support long-
pathways, though, penguins term monitoring projects,”
have the right of way. »Gentoo penguins breed on Luscombe said, “because they
are one of the most effective ways
DIDN’T I COUNT the Antarctic Peninsula of detecting and understanding
YOU ALREADY? and sub-Antarctic islands. change in wildlife populations.
They build nests of stone, They also help inform decisions
Ten gentoo breeding colonies carefully picking the about managing and improving
nest on Goudier Island. British perfect pebbles, and responsible human activity in
Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers usually lay two eggs. Antarctica.”
have been studying these penguins
since 1996. According to Lauren » 7KH ğUVW UHFRUGHG VLJKWLQJ UNTIL NEXT YEAR
Luscombe, UKAHT’s Antarctic
Operations Manager, the of Antarctica was in 1820, It can be hard for the Port Lockroy
researchers are monitoring which makes 2020 the team to say goodbye to their
how human activity impacts 200th anniversary of its penguin pals when summer ends.
“the population size, colony discovery. Luscombe said it’s not long before
distribution, and breeding many staff members are making
success” of the island’s gentoos. »Visit www.ukaht.org to plans to return, “purely to live
with, learn more about, and
Port Lockroy team members learn more about Port protect these wonderful birds.”
support the study by conducting Lockroy and the other
historic sites that UKAHT Rebecca Szulhan enjoys watching
cares for in Antarctica. the seabirds that visit the shores near
her home. She hasn’t spotted any
penguins yet.

33

DEAR KYLIE compiled by Carolee Miot McIntosh

A little birdie told me that Kylie has two pen pals this month. Okay, it was Kylie. Case loves bird-watching and
is a member of the Ohio Young Birders Club. Nikki works with penguins at an aquarium.

DnseaveteaurHarreli.!hCIMohtaeysapsrnoedta,symfooeurisbhiaKrvdye-lwhieaa.tdIchsloionvmegetoagnpreldaaytthesaxptpoeyrrtioseunaacnersde be outside in
traveling to
a member of

OwwlwforhaeenirisewoegnwIloYdtiruhoitemteultmlndhneeee.tgaamanWnkfBebdrxeeeiitrredwcdndateoehcdarrrieeysrdaiofi,eCenfddsrldhtsutbhtehbIeet.scasieaatamguiwidgfessaetiI.hntwbFehiaaoermrsdmwt’ourseteonehnatkaehlelrtessyerthhlyadiwendi,hidttwacehnrdohemeeosgnnttegoerdItbsecatriiuaecnntlkrlunibe.trdiW.nfrdoWmehrsdeyea,n Kylie loves
chickens!

deifnniedscttalyiuiWvloda?uhilInsafiwgtirnadstsvhotoeaeblslveBscbeoioerbmitdniosrelgddii-nnawytamtoehturceeemhshHtianebivdlegelrsianooFrtftebmtesihntroeiddvrsOeea?dhll.eibaoTihrrYndaoitiunnmngggufaseBbstoitburidvetaeebrlxsiscr,idCtsiln?ugbW. Dhaottkheisneds

orInffaafioiavisnscoetMerdissivto.yieitmCtbfiiheeniaisrvstcdeoogkrmrsoeeipnsteoeetdsncibnia?ceiygasrd.?ntIIhifalsaolstsavooet,chrtwheoeiyhccboakeghteaannmvri.oezauIetktnhuehesdipinrtcthkohoawi1ttcnh0kpe0ealynardntsaiirgcfbefuueeaclraaadegrnuoerst.aeIhbttulhiemse. yImawnaaordfueealscduoepslso.wovDfeeeo3ttoy0aonduidfhffaeurvenen.at
bird interesting to you?

I am excited to hear back from you!

From,

Kylie

Dear Kylie, Case belongs to Ohio Young Birders.

wIareggamlook,eoBsHimnnoierbgdlbmeliiroarny.dragIoiwuthnfianaemvsvldokteeli,vsvwabealwumhwlsetiaetnsanhyorItsmtewhwabeeaiebttseciohnmlnuu’oteibtrnsb..giItAwaregdnrel-eoiodwstzttoaiaeontdctfcoivhoimtonnihlnmvesbgetiiduirsamdninnsnied.te,ywtIilht.ceseaaAiesrnOrsnv’jhutipiincasoegtrYtb.loyoTouohfknpetuihgBnteitgBriOdnifrhsgodirioenurrYspatorhtbuewelnuboHgieryibdlBielsrsaidrradsnbeodrxse,s.

34

Case checks a nesting box. Festival conducted hikes around the Hocking Hills region everyday. I
went to one location where there was a large lake—a great spot for seeing
water birds. I went on a nighttime hike to look for nocturnal birds.
Birding festivals are usually full of nature lovers, so it is common to
go on hikes that are more about other aspects of nature and less about

birds. For example, one hike focused on wildflowers. Bird experts usually
give talks later in the day when the birds are not active. They talk about
ways to identify birds, experiences bird-watching, and other bird-related
topics. The best bird festival is the Biggest Week in American Birding.
Although it is crowded, it is also the best place to get a good look at

lots of different birds. Sandpipers, warblers,

waterfowl, and shorebirds are all found there.
I didn't know those facts about chickens, but my family

used to have chickens. I cannot really think of one bird that is
my favorite because they all are nice in one way or another.
Have a good day, and keep bird-watching.

From,

Case

Dear Case, Baby Eastern bluebirds

Thank you so much for your reply.
aaibsGnbpieoprotedureidernstce.igisbfIatfitorteamdenrne-snuwbdoistmarlttbdeecbiathrwerhdinarinsnel.gamkgIltsfloayrmrsobeomoeuuanusnbtjtyoodaubyosluetall.abyibkliorereeudtaarosl.lpbgyIaertsesawsapritaeoocsuanicnastfoldiovergoxirtbtpyehiearerdtariessnln.ewdaIcrielatnihtkfionueasgntecheoawmrtaamyryeootuno
Thanks,
Nikki and friend

Getting a closer look. Kylie

DbyireoduCasMTh.wrhiIycoaaNarnknmgkiaoi.kmsnyYooekotuehuxiesicfa,iomKtrreeyadcorlontiireonr.etelIshempaaeormpannemdnamigmnhouigargielnwhadiabsetnopchuhadmorttostmeleh.afeeIrmnooetsftthtfeaermrtnotmtaefhnaoeymrgSion!euhtT.eNhtdIhaeduwat ntAiHspdqeaseunromasgctrpuaoisuonihlnmd!irsIe’ida.nre
lAoyvroeeuItttohnmehereeueadsnrttomobteicochrfeeauanabnblgeoweudohtirofkywfieonryuegnrouwcjoeiwbst.hoirnskebvweehirtaahvl itdohirefsfpeberenetnwgtueesinnpestchibeeasdsoeifdffpeoernnengwtuhsianptescs.ipeesc?ieIsf
so, do
they are?

I am excited to hear your response!

Kylie

35

Hey Kylie! A Shedd Aquarium
trainer holds a
penguin.

I’ve worked with more than 500 different animal species
over the course of my career. I volunteered with horses as well
as at a wildlife refuge in my teens and then as a veterinary
technician throughout college. Once I graduated college with
my bachelor’s degree, I worked as a full-time relief zookeeper.
As a relief keeper, I worked with all the animals at the zoo,
rotating among departments. That’s when I met a penguin
for the first time, and I fell totally head over heels! Throughout
the years, I have worked with whales, sea lions, snakes, zebras,
monkeys, snow leopards, alligators—you name it! Every zoo and
pnaedavaavenooenqnefgwldruuiugyr,mlaehnuThlerhae-aitailtneienlupvinresmiieemrpnm’ibsahafegiraiataojyesonlillanobnowssdu.gtzecpas-Mtyouerywocaau.bysioriaoYpersearstokdededudaeiciownaghqfaainfrainubloetensdahorugeoeucrrhinmiaehstuadtat2gatilmehvncyrpr0aheiea,0ntibatrsbniotIetpoiomecrjbmlhtodnooehiebusggganea.lywmrhutdIev’ii’vbsamstenmheecrnafyhacwodotolhvhgrgsooeecieor.loc.hikotIokroHefoddermscdoyachcswanihooiiwscnceualotrvlikntroemetwhysgsrche.,s,ameeerm.nasyzaeYnitryoorxodetuouaoaslsn’Iopwpl’wagmledeitcocinlicrbilSewaekaesaelhlod,stlwresfiycadkaoiunetdiilhbwnbsddasaogmwihcrfcnkhooaoearrcnevrrkewlteiaoinmiIifirrhn’to'veehseyugeldmpdbnw.mweieaddrogimdartre1hkssenm5teeobesdrrtiayuor’lwsodersgtaesi,htrehestr
potdhfeeremtshwoeenEoaprvanbleeldoneircrtygdaysags.iunuparfaFeidseyfnsnoeeeitrragwniesryteungpeextloeit,alpaunc.“mrikiGneeSasetspodpnstoloyheiedadycv,aiiboCvglemdoouseheultotdidicaornss.ianflfosGsnufimwt,nenredbroanegieruepqntks!fito”unptoniaeaeutvn.npinogpteTgdcednahglauyyeeglalyiefisunsfzsbo.ioasaainrfrlyttafdlsi.orthttTaeonhahhrssabvaeeoutertamgeinvnk’leseedondnrnoyeborbfroeiwearltdthadshlhilatifeyyiinvfsomeoignvrouleeiroslrnkrsshiy.ktvetipoEeattfisheagrccmiecweogehmnocrpitteoebdhihsrmnilsaeryarigdem.vlslaIeihernnolnapuoftedstvnonsteihjnwgtoamesliuonslnroeyyidkwgnv.jsneAoatrobniylnld

inthpeompualIanltodivoehneb,lepainnthdgemtahbrlaeeestsmopteuecaciehcshampseaIoypdloeg. aoEbleoexuvteitnntchotefminth, etsho1e8tnhpaeextnttgh1ue0yinywesaiplrlescw.iTeahsnaattr’tseodtpeerrcorlitibencleti.ng
Here are a few things you can do to help. 1) Recycle! Plastic
and trash end up in oceans, lakes, and rivers, and animals
mistake it for food or get tangled in it. 2) Limit your
one-time use of plastics. Using reusable lunch containers,
straws, and water bottles can really help. 3) Only eat
sustainable seafood. We don’t want to take seafood from the
mouths of wild animals that need it. You can download an
app called Seafood Watch to help you determine the seafood
that is plentiful.

Who can pick a favorite when

36 all the penguins are this cute?

Things are going swimmingly.

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Nikki

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Kylie

37

A CLOSER LOOK compiled by Emily Cambias

Oh, flights 6RPH ELUGV GRQłW WRXFK WKH JURXQG IRU
of fancy. months on end. The common swift is a little
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Being able to blend into their
environment keeps birds safe from
predators. It’s especially important for
chicks that can’t leave the nest. Many
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they start cheeping.

38

The smallest birds in the The lyrebird can imitate almost anything
world are tiny hummingbirds it hears with its voice. These Australian
from Cuba. The male bee birds weave their favorite sounds into
hummingbird is just over two their songs to impress mates. People
inches long and weighs about have heard lyrebirds imitate everything
1.95 grams—less than the from car alarms to phone ringtones to
weight of two paperclips. Bee dogs barking.
hummingbird eggs are tiny,
too: the size of a coffee bean. No bird is faster than a peregrine falcon
On islands with few or no when it’s hunting. A peregrine circles high
predators, birds-of-paradise above the cliffs and cities where it lives,
could evolve colorful, unusual looking for its favorite snack: pigeons.
feathers to impress each When it spots one, it folds its wings close
other. These species perform to its sides and dives for the unsuspecting
complex and beautiful dances prey at more than 200 miles per hour.
that show off their plumage to Ostriches are the tallest and heaviest
prospective mates. Some even birds on the planet. Because ostriches run
have special feathers that they rather than fly, they don’t need to be as
can fluff out to change the light and aerodynamic as other birds. But
shape of their bodies. that doesn’t mean these huge birds can’t
travel—ostriches can run up to 43 miles
per hour.

39

CROSSWORD

FOR THE BIRDS
Answers to For the Birds Crossword on page 48

1

2

34

5 6
9
78

10

ACROSS DOWN

3 In Norse mythology, these birds were 1 very sharp claws
the messengers of Odin. 2 term for a flock of flying vultures
4 Greek goddess represented by an owl
7 a hanging piece of flesh 5 the tallest and heaviest bird on Earth
9 dead, decaying flesh of animals 6 species of penguins that live on
10 organ from which a bird’s song comes
Goudier Island
40 8 mythical bird known for emerging

from ashes

Storks usually live in
warm, tropical places.
They use the same
nest for several years.

40

eMentoring language learning

Check out Cricket’s world of reading
and online learning!

your right.

very vote
counts.

LYB2010_00Cvr1_Cover.indd 1

l
ll

Visit CricketMedia.com to learn more. WBiositrrhedd

illustrated by Marnie Galloway
retold by Felinda Villamor Bagas

MANAUL AND THE SEVEN
THOUSAND ISLANDS

A long, long time ago, when the
world was very young, there was
a bird called Manaul. Manaul
had been flying for as long as he
remembered, and he was growing
very tired. Unfortunately, there
was no place for him to land and
rest in this young world because
there was no earth—only sky
and sea.

Manaul went to Kaptan, the
god of the sky, and to Maguayan,
the goddess of the sea, to ask for
their help, but neither could be
bothered to create land for
Manaul. Angered, Manaul then
caused a riff between Kaptan and
Maguayan. Manaul told Kaptan
that Maguayan threatened to
raise her waters up to the sky so
she could drown Kaptan. He then
told Maguayan that Kaptan
threatened to throw rocks from
the moon at Maguayan so he
could drown Maguayan in her
own waters.

Manaul succeeded in pushing
Kaptan and Maguayan into a
fight. In the long and vicious
battle between the two gods,
moon rocks were thrown into the
sea, and ocean beds were raised
so waters could reach the sky.
And in the end, when the two
gods tired of their fighting,
Manaul found more than 7,000
pieces of earth for him to land on
and rest his wings.

43

MINOKAWA AND THE LAST MOON that’s how, one night, she saw Minokawa
chasing after her favorite moon. Instead of
Once there was large bird called Minokawa who hiding, she grabbed an agong, beat it hard again
lived outside the sky. He was banished there by and again and ran through the village waking
Bathala because Minokawa loved to come down everyone up. The people saw what Suwana saw.
to Earth at night and eat Bathala’s most precious They looked up in horror as Minokawa caught
creation—humans. Bathala also created seven the last moon and swallowed it. But instead of
moons to illuminate the night sky so that running and hiding, the people also took up
the people could see Minokawa and hide their agongs and drums and ran through the
from him. village making all sorts of noise.

Minokawa, however, was determined to have Minokawa heard this. He looked down, but
his fill of humans, so one by one, he chased after he couldn’t make out what was making all that
the seven moons, swallowing them as soon as noise in the darkness. He opened his mouth to
he captured them, until there was only one let a little bit of the light of the moon out, but he
moon left. still couldn’t see. He started to fear that whatever
was making the noise was out to get him. So, he
Unfortunately for Minokawa, opened his mouth some more. And that’s when
the last moon was a favorite of a the last moon jumped out of his mouth and was
little girl named Suwana. Suwana
stayed up most nights just to able to run away.
stare at her favorite moon. And

44

THE ADVENTURES OF competitors. This weakened his resolve
LAM-ANG’S ROOSTER once more, but his friend flapped his
wings. One flap created a whirlwind that
Many tales have been told about the epic toppled Ines Cannoyan’s house. This got
hero Lam-Ang, but this tale is told through Ines Cannoyan’s attention. She looked for
the eyes of his loyal friend, a rooster. The first the source of the wind, saw Lam-Ang, and
of these adventures tells how Lam-Ang won the instantly fell in love with him.
heart of the fair Ines Cannoyan, and the second is the After many years, Lam-Ang went to dive for a
tale of how the rooster saved Lam-Ang’s life. rare shellfish called rarang. In the depths of the
ocean, Lam-Ang found the rarang, but a great
There was a time in Lam-Ang’s life when he shark swallowed and killed him. Again, the
was ready to find a woman to marry. He heard rooster came to the rescue. He instructed Ines
about a woman named Ines who was beautiful Cannoyan to have someone dive for Lam-Ang’s
and moral and who could spin nine spools of bones. When they found the bones and the rooster
thread overnight. Lam-Ang’s mother, Namungan, was sure that none were missing, he told Ines to
however, feared that her son would just be cover them with her skirt. After, the rooster crowed
humiliated because Ines had many suitors from and flapped his wings, as if calling for Lam-Ang
all over the world and she had not favored even from the depths of the sea. Incredibly, Lam-Ang
one of them with a glance. got up. His rooster had raised him from the dead.

Lam-Ang was dissuaded, but the rooster Felinda Villamor Bagas is a children’s writer from the
dreamed that night that Ines would favor Philippines. Her book The Little Girl in a Box was published
Lam-Ang if Lam-Ang could only get her attention. in 2013.
So Lam-Ang heeded his rooster’s advice. He
traveled to woo Ines Cannoyan, and when he
reached her village, he saw his numerous

45

ART CONNECTION by Brenda Breuls

Bird Sculptures

Making a bird STEP 1—Create the Basic Shapes
sculpture can be
a great way to Knead the clay to soften it. Roll it into a large oval shape for the
learn more about ERG\ DQG D VPDOOHU FLUFOH VKDSH IRU WKH KHDG 0DNH WZR ĠDWWHU
them. To create the right shapes, circles for the wings. On the oval body shape, draw out one end
textures, and colors, you must WR EH WKH WDLO PDNLQJ LW ĠDW DQG ZLGH 'R WKH VDPH ZLWK WKH KHDG
observe them more closely. You shape, but make a pointed end for the beak. Create wing shapes
can use pictures and videos to with one rounded end for the shoulder and one pointed end for the
help with the research or grab a WLS IURP WKH WZR ĠDW FLUFOHV
pair of binoculars and observe
them in their natural habitat. STEP 2—Affix the Shapes Together
Then get ready to create your
own bird sculpture. Make a paste substance, called a slip, using some clay and water.
This will be the “glue” for attaching the shapes to each other. Use
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KHDG DUH VHDPOHVVO\ DIğ[HG WRJHWKHU 1H[W DWWDFK WKH ZLQJV

Materials:

Air drying clay, plain or in
different colors

Small twigs, leaves, feathers,
dryer lint, etc.

Clay tools
Acrylic paint
Glaze for air drying clay

46

STEP 3—Add Details and Texture I’ll make a clay
pigeon!
Use clay tools or tools such as forks and knives
to add details such as eyes and lines to look like
feathers. Add texture to your bird. Set the piece aside
to dry. This can take several days. Be sure to turn it
over so that all the sides are exposed to the air.

STEP 4—Make a Nest

Make your bird sculpture extra special by putting it
in a nest. Using small twigs and clay, form a circle
and base for the nest. Create a hollow with the clay.
$GG VWLFNV E\ ğ[LQJ WKHP LQWR WKH FOD\ :RUNLQJ LQ D
circular motion, add layers. Use the leaves, feathers,
and dryer lint to soften the edges. Set it aside to dry.

STEP 5—Paint and Glaze

If you didn’t use clay of different colors, you can
paint your bird. Once the bird is thoroughly
dry, paint it with the acrylic paint. Start by
painting it all black. Then add color using
a technique called dry brushing, which
layers color using minimal paint on the
EUXVK 2QFH WKH SDLQW LV GU\ DGG D ğQLVKLQJ
glaze. You may wish to paint and glaze the nest.
However, it may not need it, since it is made from
natural items. It may only need a coat of glaze to
protect it. Set the bird in the nest and display your
artistic bird study.

I hope it’s better than
your stool pigeon.

YOUR TURN: Make a Bird Sculpture

Have your parent or legal guardian send us a high-resolution image of your creation to
[email protected] by November 16, 2020. Be sure the email includes your name, age, and
address, and states that “Cricket Media may publish the image provided in Cricket’s magazines

and online, and that I am authorized to provide the image.”
All submissions become property of Cricket Media and will not be returned.

47

SAY WHAT?

“Hey, give me “What? I didn’t
my neck back!” do it! “

—Kieran L. —Ansel B.

“I am bear-y “Ex-CUSE me?”
hungry!”
—Maeve M.
—Rafael B-Z.

July/August 2020 The Sun and the Moon

Answer Page

ANSWER TO MYSTERY PHOTO
ON INSIDE FRONT COVER:
Peacock feathers feature distinctive
“eyespots.”

ANSWER TO WHERE IN THE WORLD
ON PAGE 19:
“Make Way for Ducklings” is a sculpture in
the Boston Public Garden. It is a tribute to
the children’s book of the same name by
Robert McCloskey.

ANSWER TO AN EGGCELLENT ACTIVITY
ON PAGE 27:
House Sparrow/d.
Quail/a.
African Penguin/e.
Greater Roadrunner/b.
Turkey/c.

ANSWERS TO FOR THE BIRDS
CROSSWORD ON PAGE 40:
ACROSS: 3. ravens; 7. lappet; 9. carrion;
10. syrinx.
DOWN: 1. talons; 2. kettle; 4. owl; 5. ostrich;
6. gentoo; 8. phoenix.

PICTURE CREDITS:

Tammy Kelly/Shutterstock.com: inside front cover; zizar/Shutterstock.com: 2-3; EcoPrint/Shutterstock.com: 6; Binson Calfort/Shutterstock.com: 7 (left); SanderMeertinsPhotography/Shutterstock.com: 7 (right); HTU/Shutterstock.com: 8-9;
Lipsett Photography Group/Shutterstock.com: 10 (left); Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock.com: 10 (top center); Cheryl E. Davis/Shutterstock.com: 10 (left); Ferdy Timmerman/Shutterstock.com: 10-11 (top); Bonnie Taylor Barry/Shutterstock.
com: 10-11 (bottom); H1N1/Shutterstock.com: 11 (top left); T.Dallas/Shutterstock.com: 11 (center); Alan Tunnicliffe/Shutterstock.com: 11 (right); Anastasiya_g/Shutterstock.com: 12-15 (BKGRD); Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock.com: 14; Science
History Archives/Alamy Stock Photo: 15 (top); Ivan Vdovin/Alamy Stock Photo: 15 (inset); Juniors Bildarchiv/Alamy Stock Photo: 15 (bottom); Associated Press: 16-17, 18 (left), 18 (bottom); Tuul and Bruno Morandi /Alamy Stock Photo: 18
(right), 19 (top); Marc Lechanteur/Shutterstock.com: 19 (bottom); Brita Seifert/Shutterstock.com: 20-21; Kers Kers/Shutterstock.com: 21; Natalia Mikhalchuk/Shutterstock.com: 22 (top); Krasula/Shutterstock.com: 22 (bottom); Rudmer
Zwerver/Shutterstock.com: 23 (top left); Drew Rawcliffe/Shutterstock.com: 23 (top right); Ledokolua/Alamy Stock Photo: 23 (bottom); Val_Iva/Shutterstock.com: 24-25; Forbitious/Shutterstock.com: 24; AC/Images/Alamy Photo Stock:
25; Ashley Whitworth/Alamy Photo Stock: 26 (left); Serban Bogdan/Shutterstock.com: 26 (center); Kerry Whitworth/Alamy Stock Photo: 26 (right); Ann Giriak/Shutterstock.com: 27 (BKGRD); Rob Christiaans/Shutterstock.com: 27 (house
sparrow); GeniusKp/Shutterstock.com: 27 (egg a); Cezary Wojtkowski/Shutterstock.com: 27 (quail); Eric Isselee/Shutterstock.com: 27 (egg b); winphong/Shutterstock.com: 27 (African penguin); Egor Rodynchenko/Shutterstock.com: 27 (egg
c); Dennis W Donohue/Shutterstock.com: 27 (road runner); Eric Isselee/Shutterstock.com: 27 (egg d and egg e); veleknez/Shutterstock.com: 27 (turkey); Lana_Samcorp/Shutterstock.com: 28 (top); Stacey Ann Alberts/Shutterstock.com:
28 (bottom left); hsfoto/Shutterstock.com: 28 (bottom right); TTshutter/Shutterstock.com: 29 (top left); Gillian Pullinger/Shutterstock.com: 29 (top right); Evelyn D. Harrison/Shutterstock.com: 29 (center); Andrzej Puchta/Shutterstock.
com: 29 (bottom); Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock.com: 30-31; LouieLea/Shutterstock.com: 32 (top left); Nickolya/Shutterstock.com: 32-33; MJD Graphics/Shutterstock.com: 32 (center); angela Meier/Shutterstock.com: 33 (top right); Samantha
Crimmin/Shutterstock.com: 33 (center); Carolee Miot McIntosh: 34 (top); GoodStudio/Shutterstock.com: 34 (spots); Rebecca Thomas: 34 (bottom), 35 (top left), 35 (top right), 35 (bottom left); lena_nikolaeva/Shutterstock.com: 35
(spots, right), Maquiladora/Shutterstock.com: 35 (spot, bottom), 36 (spot), 37 (spots); Shedd Aquarium/Brenna Hernandez: 35 (bottom right), 36 (top and bottom), 36-37, 37 (top and bottom); Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com: 38 (top);
Sandra Standbridge/Shutterstock.com: 38 (bottom); Melinda Fawver/Shutterstock.com: 39 (top left); Nico Faramaz/Shutterstock.com: 39 (top right); Arie de Gier/Shutterstock.com: 39 (center); Harry Collins Photography/Shutterstock.
com: 39 (bottom); Andrzej Kubik/Shutterstock.com: 39 (left); Kotomiti Okuma/Shutterstock.com: 40; Mara008/Shutterstock.com: 47 (top); Kanda Saelee/Shutterstock.com: 47 (right); Departed/Shutterstock.com: 47 (bottom); jeep2499/
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