For the Birds! Birding and Building Bird Love with Kids and Grandkids
Grandycamp: Birds. There is scientific evidence that birds are linked to happiness levels, and so are Grandkids, so there’s that! And these days, we all need as much time as possible outside, in all seasons, and birds make for a sweet and colorful seek and find. Sooner or later, (sooner, no doubt) there will be questions – “Grandma, why do the birds fly in a V Formation?” Grandmas should always have answers, or ways to find out. The Cornell Lab Bird Academy Videos are a great resource for questions you didn’t even know you had!
My other faves - The Merlin Bird ID app where you can snap a picture and it will tell you the bird (and you can download just the birds in your region) - it came in handy when we found an injured bird last summer. We also love "answering" bird calls by playing them on our smart phone (also on that app, we've done it with ducks and pileated woodpeckers). And how about this cool info for the kids about birds singing to their eggs! And this fun picture of Minnesota Songbirds – click on each bird to hear their song.
These are our favorite beginner binoculars - they come in lots of colors. No worries when they hit the sidewalk. HERE are some considerations for “investment” binoculars. Many sights recommend starting with a homemade TP tube version, just to get the littles used to focusing in to a certain spot. In the beginning, it is mostly about careful listening after all. Kids are natural explorers - HERE are easy ways to get kids birding. And HERE is a post by a busy 17-yr-old birder and how he got hooked. MORE about developing an ear for the dawn chorus. Our local James Ford Bell Museum has made a printable Bird Bingo sheet for our local Twin Cities sightings. We also love these anywhere printable Bird Trivia Games – the drawings are sweet!
We also LOVE playing and learning with this Bird Bingo – bingo always kind of levels the playing field, don’t you think?! Because this version is so visual, Grace was in the mix before she was three! But I enjoy it too.
BACKYARD BIRDS
We are including some articles for seasonal feeding and considerations – late winter, very early spring are a time of most concern for keeping feathered friends fed, watered, and letting nesting materials stay.
How to make your yard bird friendly. You can also enter your zip code into this site to see what native plants are best for your area.
CRAFTS
I LOVE these tiny bird homes with doll furniture that this illustrator temporarily tapes to her window for fun.
A fun way to make flapping birds with a simple template.
How about a virtual nature journaling course? HERE are a few free lesson samples.
HERE is a free printable Minnesota Bird Coloring Book
LOCAL EAGLE CAMS
Eagles remain in pairs and, if they successfully produce young at a nest, they are likely to return to that nest year after year, adding 1-2 ft. of nesting material each time. In Minnesota there can be eggs as early as mid-February. Both parents incubate the eggs and switch several times a day. In the spring, I often have our local eagle cam link up on my laptop to check the nest activity several times a day - it is a close up and personal learning experience for the kids. Find an eagle cam in your area!
ADVENTURES
Because it is an outside activity, Birdwatching events are not restricted much by Covid and are starting up again soon – check Park Boards and Nature Centers where you live. Some also have Owl pellets for dissecting - even kits to do at home!
The Annual February Cornell Lab Great Backyard Bird Count. Each year people from around the world come together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds.
Road Scholar has many adventures in the “birding” search, some for small groups, families, and grandparent/grandchild. As I write, it is -18 outside, so Costa Rica and Southwest Florida literally jumped off the page!
If you are a bird-lover, you might know bird-lovers having birthdays, and you might need a card with their name customized in the Happy Birthday lyrics. Just sayin’! If you joined our newsletter subscription above, you get a secret code for free shipping anytime you order. Thank you for supporting small business!