Category: bird activities (Page 7 of 11)

One of our favorite bird-related activities, the Great Backyard Bird Count, is coming up next month:  February 14-17, 2014.

The bird count is a fabulous example of a child-friendly citizen science project. Basically all you need to do is count the birds you see over 15 minutes and then report them. Although it is called “backyard,” you can count anywhere you find birds, including parks, preserves or fields.

If you have participated before 2013, you will find the process has changed slightly. Now you will enter your data with the eBird data collection program, so there’s an extra step. You will need to sign up for an account with eBird and then use that to enter your counts. The advantage of signing up is that you will be able to use eBird throughout the year, and you can keep bird lists, etc.

You will find plenty of information and instructions about how to participate at the website.

Be sure to check the links on the For Educators page for a lot of good ideas for activities to extend the project.

Remember:  One easy way to encourage birds is to plant sunflowers, like the ones in the photograph below, or other plants that produce fruit and seeds.

Related:

You may want to click the bird activities category here at Growing with Science for more posts relating to birds, including last year’s GBBC post  that contains additional activity ideas and links.

Are you doing a unit on birds? Here are two lists of bird books for children:

1. Taking Flight: a List of Children’s Books About Bird Migration at Science Books for Kids

2. List of children’s books for young birdwatchers at Science Books for Kids

We would love to hear if you participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. What kinds of birds do you see in your backyard?

Edited Jan. 15, 2014

Just a quick reminder that the Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up next weekend, Feb. 15-18, 2013. 

The bird count is a fabulous example of a citizen science project that is child-friendly. The idea to to count the birds in your backyard or elsewhere for at least fifteen minutes, and then submit your results online. The website has all the instructions, as well as birding lists for your region, etc. This year there is also a free .pdf poster of common birds to help with identification.

If you get a chance, take a look at the findings from last year, too. The animated map showing the records for the introduced Eurasian collared dove spreading over North America since 2000 is very cool (it is the lower map).

While you are thinking of birds, consider making a simple feeder to supply food or learn about growing a wildlife garden, including some plants that provide food for birds.

For example, many birds eat pyracantha berries.

The Lab of Ornithology has ideas for urban bird gardens.

About.com has design information for bird-friendly gardens. (This site has numerous ads).

Birds and Blooms has instructions for how to make a simple bird feeder.

For more ideas, see “Observing Birds” from last year.

Let us know what birds you find in your neighborhood!

Books with more information about birds:
Keep an eye out for the children’s book Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate, coming out next month (March 12, 2013)

Reading level: Ages 8 and up
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (March 12, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0763645613
ISBN-13: 978-0763645618

More recent great books about birds for children can be found at the bottom of this post.

Adult books with projects that can work with children:

Cooking for the Birds: Recipes to Attract and Feed Backyard Birds by Adele Porter

Paperback: 88 pages
Publisher: Adventure Publications (September 13, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1591932629
ISBN-13: 978-1591932628

For the Birds: Easy-to-Make Recipes for Your Feathered Friends by Editors of Birds & Blooms

Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Spiral-bound: 120 pages
Publisher: Readers Digest;  Spiral-bound edition (April 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1606521314