Build-A-Bird facts for kids

Build-A-Bird was a fun computer program released around 1986. It was designed to help students learn about different types of birds. This educational software ran on special computers called Unisys ICON II, which were often found in public schools. It might have also been available on the ICON I or ICON III computers.

What Was Build-A-Bird?

Build-A-Bird was created by the Ergonomics Lab at the University of Toronto. The main idea of the game was to let you design your own bird! You could pick different body parts to create a unique bird.

How Did You Play?

Imagine you're a bird scientist! In Build-A-Bird, you got to choose from various bird body parts. For example, you could pick:

• Long legs, like a stork's.
• Short legs, perfect for landing on branches.
• Sharp talons, like an eagle's, for catching prey.

You could also select different types of beaks and wings. This allowed you to mix and match parts to see what kind of bird you could invent.

Learning About Real Birds

After you put together your custom bird, the software would show you real birds that matched your choices. For instance, if you picked long legs and a certain beak, the game might show you a heron or a crane.

Then, the program would teach you about these real birds. You would learn about where they live (their habitat) and the areas they travel (their range). The pictures of the birds and their homes were colorful and clear for computers back then. Even though the birds didn't move or fly on screen, it was still a great way to explore the world of birds!