We have noticed Jacky Winters in the shrubs and around the paddock boundaries where we often see them perching on the fence. They also love to perch and hunt from a wattle that grows next to our daily walking track.
They’re mostly active at sunrise and sunset. This is when the males are singing and courting the females. They dominate the bird soundscape from September to October but quieten down when the nestlings emerge.
Jacky Winter Mini Study
Indoor Prep Work
Read Jacky Winter at Backyard Buddies.
Or Read Jacky Winter at Birds in Backyards.
Field Work
Visit your favourite nature spot or a shrubby woodland area to observe Jacky Winters. Search the shrubs, fences and posts where they like to perch. Observe their behaviour and how they hunt for food. What do they eat? How do they catch their prey?
Can you hear the male choruses? Do you notice any nests? Are the birds courting, incubating eggs, or raising nestlings? Are there nestlings or eggs sheltered in the nest? How old do you think they are? What colour are the eggs? What materials are used to make the nests and where are they positioned in the tree? Why do you think they chose that spot? Take photographs of the birds, their nests, and eggs. Listen to the sound of its call.
Field Journaling
Observe the bird’s field marks and patterns. How does it hold itself and what do you notice about its behaviour? Once you’ve watched it closely or taken photographs, sketch the bird into your field journal. Label its anatomy and feather arrangement. Make notes of all your observations, including your metadata. Include the Jacky Winter onto your running bird list. Write down the sound of its call. Do you think it’s saying “Peter, Peter, Peter? Can you mimic it?
Activities
- Make a bird feeder to attract birds to your backyard.
- Make a nest by using natural materials found on a bushwalk.
- Explore bird nests with the Nest Task Cards.
- Describe the Jacky Winters habitat in your field journal.
- Start a new hobby of bird watching in the morning or in the late afternoon and record them on a bird census.
Do you like to watch birds, sketch them or take photographs? Do you have a favourite bird you like to observe?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JACKY WINTERS?
The Australian Nature Study Guide Volume 1 has a full lesson on Jacky Winters that includes a poem, picture study, and activities for kinda, primary and secondary school aged children.
YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
HONEYBEE MINI STUDY
EXTRAORDINARY BEES
BLUE-TONGUE LIZARD MINI STUDY
TREE ECOSYSTEM MINI STUDY
AMPHIBIAN METAMORPHOSES MINI STUDY
EARN YOUR NATURE CLUB BADGES WHILE EXPLORING BIRDS BY OBSERVING, COLLECTING DATA, OR NATURE JOURNALING.
