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Requirements June 1972 until August 1982

1. Spend 3 hours in each of two different kinds of natural habitats at different elevations. List the different bird species you identified.  List the numbers of each seen.  Tell why all birds do not live in the same kind of habitat.

2. Spend 3 hours on each of 5 days on at least a 25-acre area, and make a list of bird species and numbers which you identified by sound or sight.

3. Recognize by sound 10 birds where you live.

4. List the bird families usually found where you live during a year.  Identify in the field on bird from eight of the following families:  Pigeons and Doves; Woodpeckers; Tyrant Flycatchers; Swallows; Crows, Magpies, and Jays; Titmice, Bushtits; Wrens; Thrashers and Mockingbirds; Thrushes Solaires, Bluebirds; Wood Warblers; Weaver Finches; Blackbirds, Orioles, Meadowlarks; Finches, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, and Crossbills.  Identify one bird from any other family.

5. Write a life history of 500 words on one bird other than a game bird that nests where you live.

6. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Keep accurate records of birds observed on at least eight field trips during one season (3 months).
(b) Watch a bird nest for an hour a day for 10 days.  Describe what you saw.
(c) Go on a Christmas census of at least 8 hours with a bird club.  List of birds observed.
(d) Go on a May big day of 8 hours with an expert.  List birds seen.
(e) Visit a bird refuge.  Describe its purpose.  Give the management techniques.
(f) Write a 500-word life history of a game bird that nests where you live.

7. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Build a backyard sanctuary of a tenth of an acre or more by planting trees and shrubs for food and cover.  Describe what birds you hope to attract and why.

(b) Build three bird feeders of different kinds.  Set them out.  Keep them stocked with food for 3 months in winter.  Describe what birds used them.  Tell what kinds of food were liked best.

(c) Build three nest boxes for different birds.  Set them out in good places.  Describe the birds that used them.  Tell how many young were raised in these boxes.

(d) Take 12 clear, sharp, recognizable pictures of 12 species of birds.

(e) Build a watering device for birds.  Keep it filled for 3 months.  Tell what kinds of birds used it.  Describe any interesting things you saw.

8. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Pick one species of bird that eats other animals.  Tell its place in nature.  Tell on what birds your state pays a bounty, if any.  Tell if this makes sense to you.

(b) Make a migration map (flyway map) of the United States.  Name some of the birds that use each flyway.  Tell where they nest.  Tell where they winter.  Describe birdbanding.

(c) Make a list of the extinct or declining birds of the United States.  Describe the chief causes of this.

Requirements August 1982 until September 1985

1. Spend 3 hours in each of two different kinds of natural habitats or at two different elevations.

(a) List the different bird species you see.
(b) List the numbers of each seen.
(c) Explain why all birds do not live in the same kind of habitat.

2. Spend 3 hours of 5 days in a large area. List the bird species you can identify by sound or sight.

3. Recognize, by sound, 10 birds usually found in your neighborhood.

4. List 8 families of birds usually found where you live.

5. Write a 500-word history on a bird of your choice. Include in your discussion, if it is available, information about its:

(a) Nesting habits
(b) Behavior and territory.
(c) Food habits and diet.
(d) Description an size of the young and adult birds.
(e) Migratory habits, if it is not a permanent resident.
(f) Any unusual characteristics about the bird you find interesting.

6. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Make 8 field trips during one season, about 3 months.  Keep records of all the birds you see.
(b) Carefully observe a bird for an hour a day for 10 days.  Record your observations.
(c) Go on an 8-hour Christmas census with a bird club.  List all the birds you can see.
(d) Go on an 8-hour May bird census with a bird club.  List all the birds you see.
(e) Visit a bird refuge.  Describe its purpose and give the management techniques used.
(f) Attend a meeting of a bird club such as the local chapter of the National Audubon Society.  Report on what you learned.
(g) Write a 300-word paper on bird behavior.

7. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Build a backyard sanctuary by planting trees and shrubs for food and cover.  Describe what birds you hope to attract and why.
b) Build 3 bird feeders of different kinds.  Keep them stocked with food for 3 months in winter.  Describe what birds are attracted to them.  Indicate what kinds of foods were liked best.
(c) Take twelve clear, sharp, recognizable pictures of twelve species of birds.
(d) Build a watering device for birds.  Keep it filled for 3 months.  Tell what kinds of birds used it.  Describe any interesting things you saw.

8. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Select one species of bird that eats other animals.  Indicate its place in nature and briefly discuss its importance.
(b) Make a migration (flyway) map of the United States.  Name some of the birds that use each flyway or migration route.  Tell where they nest.  Tell where they winter.  Describe birdbanding.
(c) Make a list of the extinct or declining birds of the United States.  Describe some of the chief causes for this decline.

Requirements September 1985 until September 1989

1. Spend 3 hours in each of two different kinds of natural habitats or at two different elevations.

(a) List the different bird species you see.
(b) List the numbers of each seen.
(c) Explain why all birds do not live in the same kind of habitat.

2. Spend 3 hours of 5 days in a large area. List the bird species you can identify by sound or sight.

3. Recognize, by sound, 10 birds usually found in your neighborhood.

4. List 8 families of birds usually found where you live.

5. Write a 500-word history about a bird of your choice. Include the following information:

(a) Description

(b) Habitat type
(c) Feeding habits
(d) Mating and nesting behavior
(e) Care of the young
(f) Migratory habits
(g) Range
(h) Any unusual characteristics or behavior  you find interesting about the bird

6. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Make 8 field trips during one season, about 3 months.  Keep records of all the birds you see.
(b) Carefully observe a bird for an hour a day for 10 days.  Record your observations.
(c) Go on an 8-hour Christmas census with a bird club.  List all the birds you can see.
(d) Go on an 8-hour May bird census with a bird club.  List all the birds you see.
(e) Visit a bird refuge.  Describe its purpose and give the management techniques used.
(f) Attend a meeting of a bird club such as the local chapter of the National Audubon Society.  Report on what you learned.
(g) Write a 300-word paper on bird behavior.

7. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Build a backyard sanctuary by planting trees and shrubs for food and cover.  Describe what birds you hope to attract and why.
(b) Build 3 bird feeders of different kinds.  Keep them stocked with food for 3 months in winter.  Describe what birds are attracted to them.  Indicate what kinds of foods were liked best.
(c) Take twelve clear, sharp, recognizable pictures of twelve species of birds.
(d) Build a watering device for birds.  Keep it filled for 3 months.  Tell what kinds of birds used it.  Describe any interesting things you saw.
(e) Build a birdhouse or nesting box.  Study the nesting habits of birds that use the structure.  Provide nesting materials for the birds.

8. Do ONE of the following:

(a) Select one species of bird that eats other animals.  Indicate its place in nature and briefly discuss its importance.
(b) Make a migration (flyway) map of the United States.  Name some of the birds that use each flyway or migration route.  Tell where they nest.  Tell where they winter.  Describe birdbanding.
(c) Make a list of the extinct or declining birds of the United States.  Describe some of the chief causes for this decline.