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Nimble Nuthatches
(God's Animals)
by Sandra Harris

Nuthatches have some remarkable abilities that set them apart from other birds. Use these traits to help children think about their own special abilities and how they can use them to help others.

Characteristic: trusting God that He created us just right

Bible Verse: How many are your works, O Lord. In wisdom you made them all. NIV

Concepts:

Nuthatches are one of the easiest birds to identify because unlike other birds, they can climb down a tree head first. There are 24 species of nuthatches: 18 are native to Asia, 4 to North America and 4 to Europe. Other continents have native birds quite similar to the nuthatch. The smallest nuthatches are just over 4 inches long (11cm), the largest are near 8 inches long (18-20 cm). Most are bluish gray on top with underparts ranging from white to gray with ochre to reddish-brown.

Nuthatches live in forested areas primarily and feed mostly on seeds and insects. Some will eat from birdfeeders and are fond of sunflower seeds. They build nests from 5 feet to 100 feet high in holes in trees; some are known to use man-made bird houses. Another unusual characteristic of nuthatches is that they narrow the entrance to their nesting holes with mud or sometimes pitch. Most live in the same area year-round and do not migrate.

The nuthatch has the nicknames “topsy-turvy bird” and “upside-down-bird” because of its remarkable ability to run up or down a tree with ease. It is able to do this because of the way God designed it. The nuthatch has very strong feet with sharp, powerful claws for digging into tree bark, and it has a short, stubby tail that doesn’t get in the way.

When God created the nuthatch, He knew exactly what the nuthatch would need. God has given us special abilities, too. These abilities help us to do the things we need to do.

Note: Older children might ask: So what about disabilities, handicaps, etc.? Did God create these people “just right?” Did God give them what they need to survive? My personal opinion is, yes, He did. Along the journey of life, we all face events that change us physically (or mentally or emotionally). Some people face these events very early in life, often before birth. An unborn baby might suffer an illness or an injury while still in the womb that affects their physical development. Other babies might be injured during the birthing process. Some people inherit physical problems that can manifest themselves early or later in life (diabetes, cystic fibrosis, etc.). Once outside the womb, there are many things that can happen: diseases like polio that hinder muscle control, accidents that sever limbs or damage spinal cords, fires that leave the body scarred, combat injuries of many types, and self-inflicted injuries caused by smoking and drug abuse. As we age, we must all face the slow loss of our physical abilities. In the end, none of us are physically perfect. But, we don’t need physical perfection to succeed at life. God gave us something better: creativity. Humans are made in God’s image and so we are wonderfully creative. If we want to do something and we can’t do it the “usual” way, then we can find another way to accomplish the goal. God also designed us with hearts of compassion and love and caring, just like His heart. An older friend (about age 80) has a saying that pretty well sums it up: When we all use the abilities God gave us to help each other, everything gets taken care of.

Center Activities

Art: This activity should be done before the children learn anything about nuthatches. Put out a variety of arts and crafts materials. Ask the children use the imaginations to design and create an animal that can do all three of the following: run up and down trees, crack very hard nuts, and save leftovers. Discuss their creations. What features did they give their animals to enable them to do the three tasks? Did anyone create a bird type of animal?

Dramatic Play: Talk about the children’s special abilities: Susie can whistle, Johnny can stand on his head, Maria can speak two languages, Tommy can ride a bike, etc. Act out situations where these different abilities can be helpful to the child and to others. Be creative! Standing on his head might enable Johnny to see into a hole to find Susie’s lost bracelet!

Craft: Nuthatch on a Tree

Materials:
heavyweight construction paper or cardstock (brown, green and white)
crayons or felt pens
scissors
craft knife (adult use only)
one brass paper fastener per child
glue
hole punch

Step 1:
From brown paper, cut out a large tree trunk the full length of the paper. An adult should use the craft knife to cut a slit down the center of the trunkleaving at least a one-inch margin from the edges.

Step 2:
From the green paper, cut out a tree top, either rounded or conical in shape. Use the full size of the paper. Glue the tree top to the top of the tree trunk, taking care not to cover the slit.

Step 3:
Have children draw and color a bird on the white paper. Cut out. Punch a hole at the center back of the bird and in the center of a piece of scrap paper about 2 inches square. Push paper fastener through the bird, then through the slit in the tree trunk, and finally though the scrap paper; bend prongs back flat. Optional: tape prongs to scrap paper.

Children can move the bird up and down the tree trunk and swivel the bird to go head first in either direction.

Story Time: Nellie Nuthatch Saves the Day

Enrichment Ideas:

1. Click the links below for some great photos online:

Red Breasted Nuthatch

White Breasted Nuthatch

2. Research nuthatches and crows. Do a compare and contrast study on them.

3. Serve nuts for snack.

4. Give children a variety of nuts, either in the shell or shelled, and an empty egg carton. Ask them to sort the nuts by different attributes: size, color, type, or shape.

5. Provide children with a variety of nuts in their shells and different nutcracking tools to try. Ask the children to classify which nuts are easy to crack and which are hard to crack.

6. Listen to “The Nutcracker” by Tchaichovsky. If Christmas time is near, watch a version of The Nutcracker ballet.

7. Provide a thick block of a soft wood like pine, a variety of nails, hammers and safety glasses/goggles. Let the children experiment with driving the nails into the wood.

8. Go on a walk to look for birds. Count how many birds you see or, with older kids, keep a list of the different kinds of birds seen.

9. Make birdfeeders to hang in the yard or in a city park. A simple, all-edible one can be made by tying string to a bagel, spreading peanut butter on the bagel then rolling it in bird seed or sunflower seeds. Use the string to hang it on a tree branch out of the reach of cats.

10. Look for another animal whose name begins with “N.”

11. Read some of the poems from On the Wing : Bird Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian. Have children write a poem about the nuthatch and illustrate it.

12. Books: I couldn’t find any children’s books specifically on nuthatches, but here’s a short list of some of the best children’s books on birds in general.
On the Wing : Bird Poems and Paintings, Douglas Florian, ages 4-8
Birds (National Audubon Society First Field Guides), Scott Weidensaul, ages 9-12
Birds, Nests, & Eggs, Mel Boring, ages 9-12
Bird Log : A Kid's Journal to Record Their Birding Experiences, Deanna Brandt, ages 9-12
Draw 50 Birds, Lee J. Ames, ages 9-12 (reading level)
Birds Calls (Play the Sounds, Pull the Tabs), Frank Gallo, baby – preschool
Birdsong, Audrey wood, ages 4-8
Birds, Birds, Birds! (Ranger Rick's NatureScope), ages 4-8
Best Nest, Philip D. Eastman, ages 4-8
Bird Children : The Little Playmates of the Flower Children, Elizabeth Gordon, ages 4-8
Birds Every Child Should Know, Neltie Blanchan, ages 4-8
Friends of a Feather, Arlen Cohn, ages 4-8
Robin's Home, Jeanine Atkins, ages 4-8

This Week’s Favorite Book Picks

Baby – Preschool: Birds Calls (Play the Sounds, Pull the...
An interactive book that lets you read about different birds, then push a button to hear their calls.

Preschool Fiction: Best Nest
A funny and charming story of two birds searching for the perfect nest. This book has been a favorite of young children for many years.

Preschool Nonfiction: Birds, Birds, Birds! (Ranger Rick's...
Lots of activities to do with kids – a great resource for teachers and group leaders as well as for kids.

Older Kids: Birds, Nests, & Eggs
A top quality introduction to birds.

Honorable Mention: Birds Every Child Should Know
Written over 100 years ago, this book is still considered one of the best introductions to birding for kids.