If you see your neighbors standing in their backyards and counting birds from February 14-17, don’t be alarmed. They’re probably participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count! Bird watching is a great hobby that can be enjoyed by all ages, and doesn’t require fancy equipment. There are many terrific children’s books about birds and bird watching; these are my favorites. (image taken from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt site) Peterson Field Guides for Young Naturalists is a great series for young ornithologists. Featuring common backyard birds such as robins, jays, woodpeckers, and crows, Backyard Birds informs readers of each bird’s physical characteristics, habitat, preferred food, and calls. “Did You Know?” tidbits include intriguing facts about each type. (image taken from Macmillan site) Birds have different calls for different situations: attracting a mate, calling offspring, and for situations in which they feel threatened. Lita Judge humorously explores bird calls in...
Counting birds with kids has never been easier with this free printable. Get your children and students engaged in wildlife education by participating in winter bird watching.
Looking for a great winter or family nature activity? Join the Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology‘s Great Backyard Bird Count Friday-Monday, February 12-15, 2016, anywhere in the world. Anyone can participate, even if you only have 15 minutes … Continue reading →
Involving kids in citizen science projects like the Great Backyard Bird Count helps kids fall in love with nature, feel part of a large community and get interested in STEM. Find out how to enjoy this activity with kids!
Large bicolored waterbird. Both sexes are iridescent purplish-green above with a white breast. Males have a large black lump on the bill, dark flanks and whitish belly, whereas females have a plain bill and gray flanks. Note all dark wings. Occurs throughout much of South America, rarely straying north to Costa Rica. Found in freshwater rivers, lakes, and marshes where it is usually uncommon. Normally silent.
January 5th marks National Bird Day. January is a great time to begin to observe birds in your very own backyard. Birds are pretty active during the winter and much easier to spot during the winter since deciduous trees have dropped all their leaves. You may have heard about the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) the Audubon Society has done for over 100 years. Counting the birds every year around the same time can help evaluate the health of an ecosystem. Although the CBC is more official, the Audubon
Tips, tricks, and resources to try the Great Backyard Bird Count with kids
A forest department survey conducted in Ajmer district last week concluded that there were no more than two Great Indian Bustards in the area - despite the fact that the zone is a known habitat of the species.
This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count, and I plan to introduce my 4-year-old to this event that engages bird watchers of all ages to create a real-time snapshot … Read more
Build a birds' nest with cooked pasta for sensory and fine motor play
During the 2012 Backyard Backyard Bird Count, some great bird pics from EarthSky Facebook friends. See them on EarthSky.
We are so excited to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count! The event's tagline is "connect to birds, to nature, and with each other" which sounds perfect for my crew! How cute that this takes place near Valentine's Day for all of the "love bird" themes! ;) Put simply, this is a time to become a "citizen scientist" and tally/record/report the bird species that you spot during a specified period of time (more on that below). Bird counts began in the early 1900s in response to the annual tradition of that time to hold bird hunting parties at Christmastime. We first learned about the Great Backyard Bird Count after missing the deadline to sign up for the Christmas Bird Count. Just as well, though, since that count seems a tad more intense, especially for beginners. (I was pretty intimidated by the registration process alone!) The Great Backyard Bird Count is much more novice friendly, but still lots of fun! You can check out the official website here for all the details. Anyone can participate by simply watching birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once during the four days of the count: Feb 16-19, 2024. You then log your bird sightings either using the apps listed on the website, or using your browser. It's free to participate. There are so many beautiful resources to learn about birds! Below are a few of our favorites. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn a small commission for eligible purchases (at no extra cost to you). Bird Counts and Becoming a Citizen Scientist Beginning Bird Watching Inspiration Refining Your Skills Just For Fun These are so smart- cute little plush birds that sing authentic bird calls provided by the Cornell lab of Ornithology’s bird recording archives! We've gradually added to our collection, and these little guys have taught us to train our ears for these bird calls! There are many varieties to choose from based on what's in your backyard or what you'd like to learn, and affordable! (Usually around $8) I'd love to hear if you participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, or a lowkey birdwatching adventure of your own making! Connect with me in the comments below or on my Instagram or Facebook accounts.
Brooklyn’s annual National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count was held recently at Green-Wood, Prospect Park, Jamaica Bay, and several other spots. Marge Raymond, who led the count at Green-Wood, has participated in it for decades. Green-Wood is a great place to see birds: our trees and shrubs provide seeds and habitat for over-wintering birds and ... Read more
One adorable barred owl. Check. The Great Backyard Bird Count runs from February 15 - 19 and encourages everyone to take 15 minutes in your backyard – or on public lands– and count the birds. Owls...
The House Finch was the most spotted bird in the Central Flyway during last year's Great Back Yard Bird Count. Join us for the 2013 GBBC: Feb. 15-18 [Photo: Jeanette Tasey]
24th annual Great Backyard Bird Count can be done from your window or your own property – Nature Conservancy of Canada – WestmountMag.ca
I love watching the birds outside my window. Every time I see a sparrow, it reminds me of Jesus' words in Matthew. He reminds me how much I matter to Him and how much every one of us matters to Him. February is also the time of year when the annual Great Backyard Bird Count happens. I made a free coloring and activity pack to help little ones take part in the excitement. This FREE 25-page printable includes coloring, early handwriting practice, simple math problems, and a special Scripture verse from Matthew in large, easy-to-trace or copy printed font. Grab Bird
Jacaranda mimosafolia on my walk, originally uploaded by dewelch. The jacarandas are in bloom here in LA. A great bright purple show that takes place every year. Read more on this topic: Brugmansia seen on my walk Passiflora found along our walk today Daffodils 2010 Great Backyard Bird Count Bird Walk at Sepulveda Basin Wildlife …
READY TO ROW: Kick-off Breakfast: Our breakfast was nod to the “Bagel Hut” and the perfect way to start our Bird Count row. The cup of hot cocoa just sweetened the deal! Story Disk: Bub did a wonderful job coloring our story disk. He placed on our map. Cover Art: The boys created their cover…
This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count! It is a great activity for parents to do with kids of all ages and it's taking place this weekend! Just look for birds in your yard or neighborhood or right out your living room window and keep track of which ones you see (and submit the results if you want.) Birding is a great year-round activity for families. In honor of the bird count I made this coloring page of common birds you might find at your feeder if you live in New England. the printable:
