The Nesting Instinct

On a cool, rainy day Declan and I looked outside our window and onto our front porch. We noticed sparrows flying in and out of their nest. Declan asked: "How do the birds stay warm in their nests?" We set out to explore the answer. Declan carefully collected a sample of the nest on our front porch and dissected it. He found feathers, string, sticks, grass, straw, and "old, wrinkled leaves and flowers." Inspired, Declan set out to make his own nest using the materials he identified in his research. He searched our mini-atelier and eagerly collected soft feathers, colourful yarn, moss, and sod. When the rain let up, he searched outside for twigs, flowers and leaves. Each material was beautifully sorted by Declan into separate bowls. Before the process of creating the nest began, Declan noted "Birds use beaks, not fingers, to make their nests." As a result, I gathered clothing pins and tongs. Declan used these instruments like a bird uses its beak to gather the materials and make his own bird's nest.  He stated "Birds must be slow and careful with their beaks so they can get their nests 'just right.'"

The result of Declan's curiosity, research, insight, and creativity led to a beautiful process of imitating the work of a bird, and creating what Declan declared as a "cozy roost." He exclaimed "This nest is a perfect place for mommy and daddy birds, and their babies to get warm, eat, sleep and hide out." When I later inquired "How do you think birds stay warm in their nests?" (the initial reason for the inquiry), Declan exclaimed "Mommy, their nests are cozy beds with warm, fuzzy blankets! They have sticks and twigs that make the nest like wood makes a bed. They have warm, fluffy feathers, yarn, and leaves to keep them warm just like a blanket." 

Led by his own curiosity and creativity, Declan answered his own question, and told me he felt like a real Scientist and Artist!