GO birdwatching
Related to the Nature Time episode, “Baby Owls”
Season: All
Time: 30 minutes
The only skill your child needs to go birdwatching is something they already have lots of, curiosity. Bird-watchers, or birders, enjoy observing birds and helping them survive and thrive by protecting their habitats, or the places they live.
Birdwatching can help children:
Discover the diversity of birds and their songs
Develop their observation and listening skills
Practice patience
Words to Know: birdsong, habitat
You Will Need:
Bird guide book or app
Pencil or crayons
A Song to Sing: Every bird has a song, the chickadee sounds like this: chicka-dee-dee-dee, chicka-dee-dee-dee. The chickadee sounds like this. Every bird has a song, the [bird name] sounds like this, [bird song]. The [bird name] sounds like this.
What To Do:
Before you start, explain to your child what it means to be a bird-watcher, or a birder. Birders watch birds to learn more about them. For example, why they look the way they do, what they eat, where they go, etc.
Note: Because binoculars can be hard for young children to use, we recommend not using them or helping your child make their own cardboard binoculars.
Go for a walk and find a quiet, comfortable spot to sit. Look around and listen for birds. Birds can usually be seen in the trees on city streets, parks, yards, and nature preserves. If you’re not having any luck, find a new spot and try again. Look closely at places where birds like to perch, like trees, bushes, power lines, and fences. Ask your child to describe what they see - the size of the bird, its colors, and what it's doing.
Remind your child that sometimes birds can be hard to see, but easy to hear. Have them close their eyes and listen. Can they point to where the song is coming from? Birds with songs are called song birds. Some birdsongs have common mnemonics to help you remember and identify them.
After listening for a minute, ask your child to try to repeat what they heard and see if a bird responds to them. If a bird does respond, ask them to imagine what it’s saying. If you have a bird guide book or an app, try to identify the bird species together. Your child may want to track their observations in their nature journal. They can draw the bird, write its name once identified, and describe its behavior. Is it resting, flying, looking for food, bathing, or doing something else?
At the end of your birding adventure, sing a song as you walk home: "Every bird has a song, the chickadee sounds like this: chicka-dee-dee-dee, chicka-dee-dee-dee. The chickadee sounds like this. Every bird has a song, the [bird name] sounds like this, [bird song]. The [bird name] sounds like this."
Reflection: If I was going to make a safe space for birds to live, I would...
Now that you and your child have a better understanding of birds, their behavior, and their habitats, talk about ways to create a safe space for them in your yard, local park, or street trees. Think of ways you can help them have safe places to build nests.
We hope you had fun together! Want to share? Snap a photo and share it with us on Instagram.