CURIOUS COLLECTIVES    

H HUMMINGBIRDS 

Of birds I’m the smallest in all of the world

And my eggs are the smallest as well

My fast-beating wings are always unfurled

They’re seldom allowed time to spell.

I fly forwards and backwards and sideways as well

Upside-down you can see me at work

I drink from the flowers but have no sense of smell

You wouldn’t call that such a perk.

I remember each bloom and where it did lurk

And soon as I drink I start countin’

To measure the time to return and not shirk

When that flower has refilled its fountain.

I build my nest high in forest or mountain

All velvety soft and elastic

It’s built of plant fibres, of twigs and of leaf

Bound with pure spidersilk – nothing plastic!

My nest stretches wide as I lay – fantastic!

They’re the tiniest eggs you can find

I mostly lay two, for more could be drastic

These two hungry beaks are born bald and blind.

Keeping two well-fed is a hard daily grind

A relentless search for good nectar

When I built my nest I was keeping in mind

The real need to find food in my sector.

As chicks grow big I become the collector

Using the tiny hairs on my tongue

From the reddest blossoms I steal the nectar

To nourish best healthy growth in my young.

As mother, my efforts by others, unsung,

My wings sing with constant vibration

Eighty times each second, that’s really high-strung –

Beautiful iridescent creation.

We’re tiny and bright and love admiration

Our pure beauty is known to disarm

No wonder then we discover causation:

Our Collective noun – a Hummingbird Charm.

A Charm of Hummingbirds, a wonderful scene

Fluttering, swift, by our eyes unseen

Such beauty born size of a tiny wee bean

Nature’s best gift’s in the Hummingbird seen.

Notes:

In how many directions can a Hummingbird fly?

What is the Hummingbird’s nest made of?

What is unique about the nest?

What colour flower attracts most attention from the Hummingbird?

What is the Collective noun for Hummingbirds?

How many times a second does the wing of the Hummingbird beat?

80 times a second is too fast for the human eye to see.

Has anyone noticed the rhyming pattern of each verse?

ABAB BCBC CDCD DEDE EFEF FGFG GHGH HIHI IJIJ 

With the final verse KKKK.

Has anyone counted the beats to each line of each verse?

11 9 11 10

Explain that rhyming poetry is often written to specific structures of rhymes and beats to the line.

Information not included in the verse:  

There are 300 different species of Hummingbirds. 

Hummingbirds have brilliant iridescent feathers, 

Being the smallest bird in the world it’s often mistaken for an insect.  

Each bird needs to drink its weight in nectar every day, the hairs at the end of the tongue help to drain all the nectar from each flower.  

The bird knows how long it will take for that nectar to be replaced in each blossom and returns the drink again.  

This also performs the task of pollination for the flowers.  

Hummingbirds seldom rest, their average heart rate is 1200 beats per minute – the average heart rate for a 12 year old person is 55 to 85 beats per minute!   The Hummingbird when resting takes 250 breaths per minute – the average 12 year old person takes between 18 and 30 breaths per minute.  

Hummingbird wings beat up to 80 times a second!!!  

Their legs are so tiny and weak that they can’t support the weight of the bird – that’s why they hover.

All this – and they can build their nests in trees up to 27 metres high.

Only a few make vocal sounds – mostly their sound is created by the vibration of their wings and tail feathers.

Hummingbirds, surprisingly are very aggressive towards each other when competing for food.

CURIOUS COLLECTIVES  

G GEESE

A Goose is a Goose is a Goose is a Goose

She’s a sociable gal who’s not on the loose

A gal?  Not a pal? To whom does she pander?

Her boyfriend of course – he’s called a Gander.

They’re sociable birds – faithful and kind

Once got together – as family they bind.

Goose lays the eggs and sits on their nest

While Gander the loyal, stands guard east through west.

The larger the bird, the longer the wait.

From laying of eggs to arrival of freight;

Depending on kind it’s four to five weeks

‘Tween no-one to feed, then up to nine beaks!

At two to three months they take their first flights

And have their first chance to see home from the heights

When the nest’s full, the babies are jostling

While living at home, the young are called Gosling.

With family they fly to see some of the world

Through all kinds of skies and clouds that are curled

When they reach the place where each one was hatched

They catch up with their friends and all are despatched.

When Goslings join up to fly round the clock

So many together we call them a Flock.

They seek new adventures and these they will find,

With new friendships made leaving no one behind. 

When Geese fly so close that they look like a lump

There’s a special name – they’re called a Plump.

A Plump of Geese, many a sister and brother –

How do they not bump into each other?

When adult geese fly in great numbers we say

They’re a Skein or a Team and no one will stray;

When they fly in a V-shape, that’s called a Wedge

As neat as can be from edge right to edge.

There’s a special technique they use for migration:

They gather their thousands in V formation.

Each bird flies above the bird right in front

Creating a marvellous aerial stunt…

This flight reduces resistance to wind

A clever technique with science twinned

To maximise effort and save the birds’ strength

For a successful migration, no matter the length.

So far we have Geese in Plump, Flock and Skein

In the Team and the Wedge, not together in vain.

They’re all in the air, but when Geese are grounded

It’s a Gaggle of Geese, ‘cos that’s how they sounded.

They’re creatures of habit with hearts that are true

Once they are mated it’s always the two

Each year they return to the nest made together

Regardless of age, regardless of weather.

If times are good and food is a-plenty

Your fortunate Goose may live up to twenty.

When one mate dies, the other does mourn

Often living its life alone and forlorn.

It’s true that Geese will find comfortable quarter

Their only real need – being close to the water

They eat nuts, grass and berries, mixed with some seeds

It’s much the same for all of the breeds.

Notes:

What is a male Goose called?

What is a female Goose called?

What is a young Goose called?

How old is a Gosling when he takes his first flight?

Do Goslings stay with their parents all their lives?

What do you call a group of Goslings?

How many names can you think of for groups of Geese?

What is the special name for a group of Geese on the ground?

What shape do migrating Geese fly in?

Why do Geese fly in a V shape?

How long can a Goose live?

You can listen to the honking sounds made by Geese on YouTube.  Just type in ‘Sounds of…..” and you will be directed to an appropriate website.

THE QUEUE

‘Oh please let me in’ said the bear who was grizzly

‘I’m doing a show, I don’t want it frizzly.’

He tugged at his hair, that fussy old bear

‘I’ve just had it dyed, it used to be fair’.

Those waiting in line just smiled at each other

Ev’ryone happy to help their brother.

A worm who was third from the start of the queue

Was shivering hard and fast turning blue

‘What’s wrong with this bus? It’s broken down?

Will anyone ever get into the town?’

The town was twinkling and bright with its light

Some in the queue were starting to fight. 

A big bird with a bandage around one wing

Started to dance the highland fling

A pelican said to a stork ‘It’s outrageous,

I do hope this madness is not contagious.’

The stork looked at him squarely and quietly said

‘I wish I were home and tucked into my bed’.

Three canaries were singing (they’d been to a dance)

The song they were singing was written in France

They yodelled and trilled all over the scales

They even tried singing the song of the whales.

They ordered some orange and cherry ice cream

Enough to feed a whole basketball team.

The ice cream arrived and the queue they went crazy

Except for the piglets – they’re terribly lazy

They wanted some oak nuts, acorns they’re called,

They said they grew hair and no-one was bald

Maybe it’s true that nuts cover the scalp

But nobody there needed that kind of help.

The crowd suddenly hushed and fell into silence

Somewhere behind was an outbreak of violence 

A basketball team had arrived with some melons

Those in the crowd believed they were felons

(people who steal from others their treasures)

Getting caught redhanded was one of their pleasures.

The whole scene looked stupid to Harry the Horse

Who was trying to study the subject of Morse

He tapped and he paused and waited for action

His hoof immune from outer distraction

He tapped dah dah dit, di dah, dah and dit

If it worked he would make a quick dash for it.

Did you hear of that Harry’s ultimate fate?

His message was read and – opened the gate

Harry leapt forth and came in number nine

And met a young filly he thought divine

When Harry proposed she promised to tryst

‘Cos Harry had asked with a flick of his wrist.

Well you might think that this is all rot

That all horses can do is gallop and trot

But Harry believed he could dominate fate

By placing his faith in the power to create

A message he’d sent by dah and by dit

Had stretched his talent and used his wit.

Dah dah dit, tapped in Morse will give you a ‘g’

Di dah gives you ‘a’, dah and dit ‘t’ and ‘e’

So Harry the Horse repeated his offer

Confirmed he was humble and empty his coffer

But Tilly the Filly was thrilled with his Morse

And she happily neighed ‘Oh Harry, of course’.

Sorry I am, about this diversion

I have an aversion to total immersion

The queue got itself rattled 

They all tittle-tattled

The bus arrived late and was slow to unload

But who jumped out first?  Of course – the toad.

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