Migration Dangers

Days in the Life of a Migratory Bird

© 2024 Birding For Beauty

Migration Dangers: Rules and Expectations

Please follow all of the rules to ensure a smooth process.

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• Today, you’re experiencing a simulation of what it’s like to be a migratory bird. This is not an accurate representation of their actual lives. Rather, you, the participant, learn more about the kinds of dangers and setbacks these birds face and how you can help.

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• With that said, please be honest with yourself. Don’t move up more steps than you’re instructed to or spend shorter time on an activity than is requested.

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• As a heads up, some of the slides are duplicated at certain points in the activity. This is purposeful to show how prevalent these particular dangers age—namely, predation and human-caused hazards.

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• Experience the full extent of this activity by reading carefully and being fully present.

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• Good luck with your migration!

1

This is the very beginning of your migration!

Roll your die.

• If you roll a 3 or less, you must stay on this slide and participate in the activity below.
• If you roll a 4 or higher, roll your die again and move that number of spaces forward.

TASK:

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Roll your die.

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• If you roll an even number (2, 4, or 6), move your arms in a figure–8 movement to mimic the way birds fly. Do this for 30 seconds, then roll your die again. Whichever number you roll, you move up that many spaces.

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• If you roll an odd number (1, 3, or 5), you’ve been crashed into the window of a tall building! Lie down on the floor and wait until someone helps you up. Then, roll your die and move up that many spaces –1.

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2

Congratulations! You’re found your path, and you’re on your way.

TASK:

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You’re lucky! You’ve now spent a couple of days flying by night. Roll your die and move up that many spaces.

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3

Oh, no! A big storm is on the way. See what happens.

TASK:

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You need to find food because of all the flying.

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Put the ball in the spoon and run in place for 30 seconds. If, at any point, the ball drops, you must start over.

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After you’ve finished, roll your die. Because the storm is slowing everything down and winds might be dangerous for your flight course, may only move forward the number you rolled –2 (if you roll 2 or below, this will involve staying in place and re-doing this task or moving backward).

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4

You’ve decided to rest in one of the backyards of a suburban neighborhood (due to the lack of nature available elsewhere. There are puddles to drink from and seeds to eat. However…

TASK:

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The house has a cat! You’re so busy eating that you don’t notice until it’s right behind you.

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Roll you die.

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• If you roll a 3, 4, or 6, you manage to escape before it jumps. Close call! Move up 2 spaces.

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• If you roll a 1, 2, or 5, you got unlucky. The cat pounces. Roll again to see what happens.

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• If you roll an even number (2,4, or 6), you jump out of the way in time with only a few missing feathers and maybe sore wings. Move up 1 space.
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• If you roll an odd number (1,3, or 5), the cat got you! Exit the game and watch your classmates’ journeys from the side.

5

It’s night, and you’re flying over a big city. The lights are so bright that it’s hard to see the stars anymore. You become disoriented and lose your way.

TASK:

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Because the bright lights are so disorienting, you fly in circles around it, depleting your energy, wasting time, and increasing the risk of colliding with a building.

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Run around this station in a circle 10 times. Once you’ve finished, roll your die.

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• If you roll a 1 or 6, you escape the loop you’ve created for yourself, successfully avoiding any buildings or other collision hazards. Move up 1 space.

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• If you roll a 2, 3, 4, or 5, you’re on track to collide with a building. Roll again to see what happens next.
• If you role a 1, you see the building and twist away at the last moment. Move up 1 space.
• If you role a 2 or 3, you don’t see the building because of the glass and collide. However, you’re only stunned temporarily. You survive. At least, for now.
• If you roll a 4, 5, or 6, you die on impact. Exit the game.

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6

A few days have passed since migration has begun. You’re hungry and decide to stop and look for food.

TASK:

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There are 10 red objects placed around the room/outdoor space you’re in. Collect all of these objects one by one in this way:

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• When you find one, take it.
• When you find a second one, place the first object in the second object’s place.
• When you find a third object, place the second object in the third object’s place and take the third object.

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• When you find and replace the 10th object’s place with the 9th, put the 10th object in the 1st object’s place.

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Continue this process until all 10 objects have been found and replaced. If there are multiple participants at this station, go through this process as a group.

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When you’ve finished, move up 2 spaces.

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7

You’ve decided to rest in one of the backyards of a suburban neighborhood (due to the lack of nature available elsewhere. There are puddles to drink from and seeds to eat. However…

TASK:

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The house has a cat! You’re so busy eating that you don’t notice until it’s right behind you.

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Roll you die.

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• If you roll a 1, 2, or 4, you manage to escape before it jumps. Close call! Move up 2 spaces.

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• If you roll a 3, 5, or 6, you got unlucky. The cat pounces. Roll again to see what happens.

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• If you roll an even number (2, 4, or 6), you jump out of the way in time with only a few missing feathers and maybe sore wings. Move up 1 space.
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• If you roll an odd number (1, 3, or 5), the cat got you! Exit the game and watch your classmates’ journeys from the side.

8

Oh, no! Another storm is on the way. See what happens.

TASK:

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You need to find food because of all the flying.

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Put the ball in the spoon and run in place for 30 seconds. If, at any point, the ball drops, you must start over.

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After you’ve finished, roll your die. Because the storm is slowing everything down and winds might be dangerous for your flight course, may only move forward the number you rolled –2 (if you roll 2 or below, this will involve staying in place and re-doing this task or moving backward).

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BONUS STEP: If you, at any moment in the game, reached activity 5 (the bright lights one) and rolled a 2 or 3 and survived temporarily, you must complete this task.

• Roll your dice. If you roll a 1 or 2, you survive. Move forward the number of spaces that you had rolled in the last step.
• If you roll a 3 or higher, you’ve been suffering from internal bleeding and must now exit the game.

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9

It’s night, and you’re flying over a big city. The lights are so bright that it’s hard to see the stars anymore. You become disoriented and lose your way.

TASK:

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Because the bright lights are so disorienting, you fly in circles around it, depleting your energy, wasting time, and increasing the risk of colliding with a building.

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Run around this station in a circle 10 times. Once you’ve finished, roll your die.

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• If you roll a 1 or 6, you escape the loop you’ve created for yourself, successfully avoiding any buildings or other collision hazards. Move up 1 space.

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• If you roll a 2, 3, 4, or 5, you’re on track to collide with a building. Roll again to see what happens next.
• If you role a 1, you see the building and twist away at the last moment. Move up 1 space.
• If you role a 2 or 3, you don’t see the building because of the glass and collide. However, you’re only stunned temporarily. You survive. At least, for now.
• If you roll a 4, 5, or 6, you die on impact. Exit the game.

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10 The Ultimate Task: Competition

This last task simulates the competition that occurs even after a migratory bird has arrived at their final destination. With habitat loss, there’s competition for who can occupy a certain space, eat the food there, etc.

If you’re the only one when you’re at this station, count to 10. If, by the time you’ve finished counting, you’re the only one still at this station, you’re free to move on.

If you’re joined by another participant, play rock-paper-scissors. Whoever wins 2 out of the 3 games can move on. The loser must stay behind until another participant comes along. If you win that game, you can also move on. If you lose, you’re out of the game.

Thank you for participating!

Please note, again, that this is only a simulation. The struggles that birds face in daily life are much more dangerous than any human-made activity could safely recreate.

While there were positive outcomes in this activity, keep in mind that most of the outcomes resulted in setbacks, injury, or removal from the game (bird death).

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Hopefully, this activity has taught you to be more mindful of nature. Think about the following as you continue on with the rest of your day.

• Turn down lights at night.
• Keep pets indoors and on leashes when outside.
• Window protectors that deter birds.
• Advocate! Tell your friends and family about what you learned. Knowledge about a topic is the key to change.