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Bird Brains at Work: by Anita N. Amin

The document is an article titled "Bird Brains at Work" by Anita N. Amin. It discusses how carrier pigeons have been trained to perform various jobs such as delivering messages for Genghis Khan 800 years ago, serving as "spy pigeons" with cameras attached to their feet during World Wars I and II to take photos of enemy land, and helping scientists study air pollution by carrying devices that tested air quality. The article aims to teach readers about the real jobs that carrier pigeons have held beyond just being ordinary birds.

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Alle Lunag
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1K views5 pages

Bird Brains at Work: by Anita N. Amin

The document is an article titled "Bird Brains at Work" by Anita N. Amin. It discusses how carrier pigeons have been trained to perform various jobs such as delivering messages for Genghis Khan 800 years ago, serving as "spy pigeons" with cameras attached to their feet during World Wars I and II to take photos of enemy land, and helping scientists study air pollution by carrying devices that tested air quality. The article aims to teach readers about the real jobs that carrier pigeons have held beyond just being ordinary birds.

Uploaded by

Alle Lunag
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: ___________________________

Bird Brains at Work


by Anita N. Amin

Next time you see a pigeon flying across the sky, look
at it carefully! Is it holding a can? Or a camera? Or
wearing a backpack? If it's a carrier pigeon, it just
Spy
might be a working bird.
Many years ago, carrier pigeons were used to help our
You've probably heard of working dogs that help country in during wars. “Spy pigeons” had small
police officers, or horses that help farmers. Did you cameras were tied to their feet. As a pigeon flew over
know that carrier pigeons can be trained to help enemy land, the camera snapped photos of the land
people too? What kind of jobs do these birds below. This would allow our military see where the
perform? enemies were and what they were doing.

Mailman The pigeons have probably saved many soldiers' lives.

Carrier pigeons can be trained to carry messages to These “spy” birds had a dangerous job. They had to

people. The note is placed into a small skinny can. dodge bullets, poisonous gas, and bullies like hawks.

The can is tied to the pigeon’s leg. Then the pigeon


During World Wars 1 and 2, the USA and its allies even
flies off to deliver the note.
had huge pigeon armies. Thousands of pigeons

Carrier pigeons are good messengers because they’re served! They were like flying soldiers. A few even

fast and can fly long distances. They also have a good received medals for their brave work.

sense of direction. They can even reach places that


Scientist’s Helper
people can’t.
In 2006, a group of scientists used pigeons to study air
More than 800 years ago, Genghis Khan, an Asian pollution in California. Special backpacks with
ruler set up pigeon post offices across his lands! As miniature cellphones were strapped onto pigeons. As
recently as 2010, Cuba used pigeons to send election the pigeons flew, machines in the backpacks tested
results to its mountain people. to see what gases were in the air. The cell phones sent
information about the air to the scientists.
Lifeguard
Bird Brains at Work
From high up in the sky, specially trained pigeons can
spot orange life jackets in the ocean. Sometimes it is So next time you see a pigeon, stop and watch
difficult for humans to spot people lost at sea, it closely. What might look like an ordinary bird to
especially when the weather is bad. However, most people, might actually be a hard-working mail
pigeons can fly quickly over a large area of water in carrier, a scientist, a lifeguard, or even a spy!
search of people.

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com


Name: ___________________________

Bird Brains at Work


by Anita N. Amin

1. What did Genghis Kahn use pigeons for 800 yeas ago?

a. He used pigeons to deliver election results.


b. He used pigeons to find people lost at sea.
c. He used pigeons to carry messages.
d. He kept pigeons as pets.

2. What was the author's purpose for writing this article?

a. to share fictional stories about pigeons helping people


b. to teach readers about the lives of wild pigeons
c. to persuade readers into liking pigeons more
d. to teach readers about real jobs held by carrier pigeons

3. Explain how pigeons have helped our military during wartimes.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Do you think our country's military still uses carrier pigeons during wartime? Why or why not?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com


Name: ___________________________

Bird Brains at Work


by Anita N. Amin

Match each vocabulary word on the left with


its definition on the right.

_____ 1. life jacket a. person who rescues people who


are in danger of drowning

_____ 2. military b. wearable device that helps a


person float in water

_____ 3. election c. small discs given as awards

_____ 4. poisonous d. process in which citizens vote for a


government official

_____ 5. lifeguard e. armed forces

_____ 6. medals f. machine to taking photos

_____ 7. camera g. something that causes illness or death

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com


ANSWER KEY
Bird Brains at Work
by Anita N. Amin

1. What did Genghis Kahn use pigeons for 800 yeas ago? c

a. He used pigeons to deliver election results.


b. He used pigeons to find people lost at sea.
c. He used pigeons to carry messages.
d. He kept pigeons as pets.

2. What was the author's purpose for writing this article? d

a. to share fictional stories about pigeons helping people


b. to teach readers about the lives of wild pigeons
c. to persuade readers into liking pigeons more
d. to teach readers about real jobs held by carrier pigeons

3. Explain how pigeons have helped our military during wartimes.

Camera would be strapped to their feet and the pigeons would fly over enemy territory.
The camera would automatically snap pictures so our military could see the enemy.

4. Do you think our country's military still uses carrier pigeons during wartime? Why or why not?

No, they probably do not use pigeons today because we have satellite technology and
unmanned drone spy planes.

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com


ANSWER KEY
Bird Brains at Work
by Anita N. Amin

Match each vocabulary word on the left with


its definition on the right.

b 1. life jacket a. person who rescues people who


are in danger of drowning

e 2. military b. wearable device that helps a


person float in water

d 3. election c. small discs given as awards

g 4. poisonous d. process in which citizens vote for a


government official

a 5. lifeguard e. armed forces

c 6. medals f. machine to taking photos

f 7. camera g. something that causes illness or death

Super Teacher Worksheets - www.superteacherworksheets.com

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