Each student finds a special spot away from other students but still within eyesight. Spend a quiet 10 minutes writing or drawing what is seen, smelled, heard, or felt. Encourage a full 10 minutes. Migrating Songbirds Neotropical migratory birds nest in the US and Canada and spend the winter south in Mexico, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean. This diverse group of birds numbers 350 species, including waterfowl, shorebirds, birds of prey, and songbirds.
Migratory birds are part of a global system that developed over thousands of years.
Birds play important roles in maintaining ecosystems by keeping populations of insects and other prey in balance, spreading seeds, and providing food for predators. Habitat loss is the greatest problem facing Neotropical migratory songbirds and other wildlife. Many species construct open cup nests. These nests are vulnerable to blue jays, raccoons, house cats, and other predators. Songbirds often nest only once during each breeding season.