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| Photo Credit:Meghan Kearney, USFWS |
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This month in the Year of the Bird, we encourage you to get your kids or kids you know out into nature. If you love birds, teaching a child how to bird can create both an understanding of and interest in nature which can translate into a lifelong passion for him or her. We all know how hard it is to pry kids away from their mobile devices. But, a trek into nature can open a real world of wonder and exploration. Don’t know exactly how to do this? We’ve got you covered! Check out a few ideas to get you started:
- Make it fun — this is a treasure hunt and we are all going to see what we can find! And there will be birds and lots of other things to see!
- Provide some background on what you are about to see – are they migrating or nesting birds? Where are they found and why are they there?
- Which bird is that? Be a bird detective – National Geographic has some great ideas about how to make birding fun and a learning experience kids will want to do again and again.
- Have the right gear to get the job done – this is up to you how deeply you want to go into this, but binoculars, the right footwear and clothing, sunscreen are essentials
- Take along a camera – everyone loves sharing what they have seen, and this will be something they will want to record. Maybe do a journal as well.
- Starting a bird list is a great idea for the child who is a little competitive or likes goals. Then each time you go birdwatching you can go to a different habitat and add more birds to the list.
- What it takes to be a good birder are life lessons – qualities like patience, stillness and respect for the birds! Just leave them be and once they don’t mind you being there, they will surprise you.
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