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Flying High (Smart Bird Beak & Feather Adaptor Lab)

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Test 4 3D-printed bird beak tools (Tweezers = Hummingbird nectar, Pliers = Parrot nut cracker, Scoop = Duck filter, Hook = Eagle meat tearer) on a load cell force sensor. Measure crushing force required for different foods.

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Props & Materials Required

  • •4 3D-printed / craft bird beak models (Tweezers, Pliers, Scoop, Hooked Beak)
  • •Food samples (Nuts, Grains, Plastic fish, Nectar water)
  • •HX711 load cell force sensor scale
  • •ESP32 controller board
  • •0.96-inch OLED display screen
  • •DFPlayer Mini MP3 module + 3W speaker

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Pick Parrot Nut-Cracker Beak

Select the short curved pliers-style Parrot beak.

2

Crush Hard Seed on Force Scale

Use the Parrot beak to crush a hard seed on the load cell sensor platform.

3

Read Crushing Force

Force sensor reads '1.2 kg force'. Speaker announces: 'PARROT BEAK! Strong hooked beak exerts 1.2 kg force to crack tough nuts!'

4

Test Hummingbird Nectar Beak

Switch to long thin Tweezer beak. Sip nectar from narrow flower tube. Speaker: 'HUMMINGBIRD! Long needle beak sucks nectar without crushing flowers!'

Why It Works & Notes

Flying High explores bird features — why different birds have different shaped beaks adapted to their food. Using mechanical beak tools to crush seeds or spear fish while measuring force quantifies evolutionary adaptation.