Bird Adventures for All Ages

Spring passed, summer sunshine beams upon us. The morning comes alive with the bird chatter and song. Riding bikes or watering the garden, we are invited to stop awhile and listen. Our children notice the difference in tones. Some birds sound happy, others protect territory, still others mimic. What brilliant variety!

Sparked by interest, we gathered a few bird books from the library and listen on-line to bird song. Did we hear that bird? It's a dove! That sounds like the bird in our backyard? I know it is a blue jay!

Our adventures grow spontaneously out of our reading and listening together. After reading Cradles in the Trees: The Story of Bird Nests by Patricia Brennan Demuth, the girls gather found pillows, sheets and blankets, building three comfy bird nests throughout the house. They fly in and out of nests, visiting one  and bringing food to hungry hatchlings. Later we go on a "nest hunt" outdoors, taking the bird field guide to identify birds seen while on our hunt. One learner tries to build a real nest out of grass, sticks, string and mud. Oh, and while that was drying, it was requested we paint on giant paper with the feather duster. 

With the book list below, and the many other bird books waiting on the shelves of your library, you, too, can fly away on some exciting bird adventures.  

Watching Water Birds by Jim Arnosky

Cradles in Trees: The Story of Bird Nests by Patricia Brennan Demuth

Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert

Owls by Gail Gibbons

Ducks Don't Get Wet by Augusta Goldin

Where Do Birds Live? by Ron Hirschi

A Nest Full of Eggs by Priscilla Belz Jenkins

Counting is for the Birds by Frank Mazzola, Jr.

The Bird Alphabet Book by J. Pallotta

About Birds: A Guide for Children by Cathryn Sill

Unbeatable Beaks by Stephen R. Swinburne

Our middle schooler, still eager for ornithology, wanders to the bookshelf and finds The Story of James Audubon by Joan Howard, a biography from our favorite Signature series collection. We also found The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies and Melissa Sweet at the library and some wonderful resources at the Cornell Ornithology lab site. 

Though we don't have children interested in high school level bird study, some high school learners might decide to study ornithology. Career study may be helpful to young adults interested in bird study. 

Families can continue study together through birding clubs in their area, sceduling a field trip to the local Audubon society, or dissecting owl pellets.

Additional resources:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/bird.html

http://www.neok12.com/Birds.htm

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/

http://www.wildbirds.com/IdentifyBirds/KidsBirds/tabid/675/Default.aspx

http://www.kidwings.com/index.htm

http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/owlpellet.html

Happy birding!