Bird Watching With Kids

Birdwatching is a great way to inspire the love ofnature in your child. It’s the perfect family activity that can be doneyear-around. Kids are natural explorers; they’ll love getting outside and you’llenjoy the benefits of getting them in the fresh outdoor air. You won't need togo far. Birds can be seen on the city street as well as in parks, yards, andnature preserves. Going to areas near water will help birding adventures beeven more successful.

By teaching kids how to identify some birds, you canhelp make them more aware of our local biological diversity. On top ofappreciating nature, birding also teaches children about responsibility for theenvironment.

The best way to get kids started in this interestinghobby is to place a bird feeder and a bird bath in your yard so kids can be incharge of keeping their feathered friends well-nourished. Quality foods willattract the best variety of birds.

You might think you’re getting a deal by grabbing abag of bird food at the grocery store. But what are you really paying for? Muchof those foods are have filler seeds (up to 2/3 or more!) that birds will noteat. Hanging up a suet feeder will attract different varieties of birds. Suetis especially helpful for them during cold weather months where they need highamounts of protein.

Here are some tips and ideas to encourage kid’snatural interest in birds and nature.

Building and/or painting a bird feeder with your childcan be the perfect first step. You’ll attract more birds to your backyard withyour amazing bird feeders!

Remind kids that birds are hard to spot, but easy tohear. Have them close their eyes and listen.

This classic pastime can be appreciated withoutanything more than your eyes and ears, but a pair of binoculars, a guidebook, acamera, and a sketch pad and pencils can enhance bird watching for kids. It isalso a good idea to pack a bag with snacks, water, sunscreen, and first-aiditems when venturing out for a birding session at a nature preserve. Be sure toinstruct new birders not to interfere with birds or nests.

Bird watching becomes more fun when kids recognize andcan name the birds they see. One fun way to learn different bird species is BirdBingo - a fun game that teaches kids to identify sixty-four species of birdsfrom around the world. Or get a Bird matching card game, which is a favoritethat’s fun for all ages.

Our modern world encourages constant multi-tasking, but it's important forgrowing brains to stop and recharge. The stillness of bird watching is less ofa skill and more of an opportunity to pause and take it all in. You and yourfamily might be surprised at the things you discover besides birds!

Bird watching is a hobby that can be enjoyed at any age. By fostering anappreciation for nature in your children, you are giving them a gift that willlast a lifetime.

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