Penny's Reviews and Chat

MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY

Survival Secrets of Turkey Vultures

by Debra Toor

     I’m always excited to learn new things about our natural world, and I especially appreciate information about birds. I knew very little about turkey vultures until reading “Survival Secrets of Turkey Vultures,” by Debra Toor. I learned several things.

     First, I didn’t realize that turkey vultures need thermals—rising warm air currents—in order to stay aloft. They don’t often expend their energy flapping their wings. The thermals are essential for them to go hunting—rather, to go scavenging. Debra Toor’s story is about turkey vulture parents trapped by rain and cold weather for three days. They have two-day old chicks to feed. Mother vulture leaves father vulture to keep the chicks warm while she searches for carrion. I didn’t know both parents care for their young, taking turns brooding and scavenging.

     Turkey vultures are buoyant and can soar for long periods with little flapping because their wing area is large compared to their weight.  This is called low wing loading. They ride the thermals up and down across the sky. I learned they steer with their feathered wing-tips. They can't fly at high speeds or dive like other birds of prey (such as eagles, hawks, falcons). They search for dead animals and use their unique nostrils to detect the odor of death—the release of ethyl mercaptan (gas) from dead bodies.

     This story is told as an exciting, life or death struggle for survival. The story is illustrated with amazing photographs that clearly show turkey vultures in their daily life of flight, soaring, hunting for carrion, feeding, vomiting, and “playing dead” to ward off predators. Will mother vulture make it back to her nest to feed her chicks? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

     In addition to the Q/A’s, definitions, Word Matching, Fill in the Blanks, and Word Search at the end of the book, Ms. Toor shows how to use the Teacher’s Guide for Grades 4 – 6. The Teacher’s Guide includes a Bingo Game, Crossword Puzzle, KWL (Know, Want-to-know, Learned) chart, Writing an Opinion Piece/PR Guide, and a Graphic Organizer. The Teacher’s Guide shows how to use her book and how it aligns with the Common Core English and Science Standards and includes detailed references.

     This book is a great addition to Home school, school, and classroom libraries. Also, it’s a great gift to busy Elementary English and Science Teachers. Recommended for grades 4 through 6 (ages 9 to 11).

      More information about Debra Toor is at http://www.ecostoriesbydebtoor.com

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Tags:

Survival Secrets of Turkey Vultures, Debra Toor, turkey vultures, carrion, hunters, predators, scavengers, Middle Grade Science, Classroom libraries, Teacher's Guide, soaring