BIRD HOMES Many birds will build a nest for shelter. Nests protect young birds and eggs. Birds use materials they find in the environment to build their nest.

Some birds build their nests on the ground.

Some birds build nests in trees.

Some birds make their nests inside hollow trees.

Some birds build their home on the water.

No matter where a nest is built, it provides a safe habitat ….

…for baby birds to grow.

Biomimicry Mimic means to copy. Biomimicry is when we copy nature. Today we have looked at how birds engineer their homes and even made a bird nest of our own. Let’s look at human homes that have copied the materials and engineering of birds and other animals.

Weaver birds weave grasses to make their nests.

Do you see woven grasses on these homes?

Some animals make their homes in the earth or use dirt and mud.

Mud is used to build these homes. The homes stay cool in hot climates.

Some animals find shelter and make their homes inside caves, like these bats.

These homes have been formed inside existing openings in the rock.

Just like the polar bear, people can keep warm in a shelter made from ice.

Many animals and insects make their homes underground like these meerkats. Who could live here?

People are building homes under ground to stay nice and cool in hot climates. Can humans live underground? YES

Beavers and these fox have used branches and logs from trees to build their homes.

Many of our homes are made with lumber from trees. Is your home made from trees?

This car has a shape similar to this boxfish. Scientists are using biomimicry to design many new products.

Engineers designed this train by copying the beak of the kingfisher bird.

These shoes have a special paint on them that reflects light like the wings on this butterfly

This building stays cool without air conditioning. Scientists mimicked a termite nest to engineer the air flow of the building.

The Ultracane helps people find their way when they can’t see. The cane works by copying the way bats use sonar.

Scientists are learning new things from nature everyday. Imagine the new things you can create by mimicking nature.