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Birding With Kids

By Jeff 6 Comments

birding with kids

Birding With Kids

If you’ve ever looked out your window in awe of the abundance of wildlife right in your own backyard, you might be ready for a new hobby. Birding, which is a pastime shared, according to the Audubon Society, by 47 million people in the US, is a relaxing activity you can do at home. And the best part: birding with kids is great because the kids are never too young to get started. So, keep reading for some great tips on how to discover your new passion together.

Get Your Gear Together

As with any activity, birdwatching requires gear. A few essentials include a pair of binoculars for both you and the kids, a notebook, and, if you have a larger budget, a good camera. Before you buy anything, make a point to check for Amazon discount codes since this is where you will find the best prices on most of your needs. Amazon is a one-stop-shop where you can find everything from kid-sized gear to birdhouses, birdbaths, feeding stations, and much more.

Know Your Local Wildlife

While it’s fun to simply spot birds at random, you can make your hobby more interesting by knowing which birds you are likely to encounter. In addition to your state bird, there will be dozens if not hundreds of other species fluttering around overhead on any given day. If you live near a body of water, you’ll have access to waterfowl and an abundance of non-avian wildlife.

Attract More Birds

This is where the kids can really pitch in and lend a hand. Attracting birds to your property is not that difficult, but it does require a little work. According to Wild Birds Forever, birds look for food, shelter, and water. Many will also scout specifically for certain types of foliage since many birds make their nests in trees, shrubs, and even ground covers.

Have the kids plan and plant a flower garden, and then you can work together to install birdbaths and birdhouses. Another simple and relatively inexpensive project you can tackle on a long weekend is adding a small pond to your bird-viewing area. Start with a quick visit to your local hardware store to see which type of liners they have available; Home Depot and most farm supply retailers have at least one or two options handy. Once you know the size, you can start digging. When your pond is operational, head to the nursery and let the kids pick out a few plants to bring even more birds to your backyard.

Go Through the Motions

One of the most difficult aspects of birding with kids is keeping them still and quiet long enough to get a glimpse of your targeted bird. Do a few “dry runs” to see how long the kids can stay calm without jumping up and down at their first discovery.

Document Your Finds

Just as enjoyable as actually seeing the birds is documenting them. Bird Watcher’s Digest shares tips on how to start your own birding journal and encourages having supplies on hand, such as an ink pad and spray adhesive, for photographs. In the front of your journal, make a list of all the birds you hope to see and mark them off when you do. Even young children can keep their own journal, which will also encourage them to draw and write. As an added bonus, you can keep these as mementos that they will cherish when they become parents themselves.

Birdwatching is a hobby that your entire family can share and enjoy. As you learn the ins and outs of avian exploration, you might just find that you have a greater appreciation for the world around you, starting in your own backyard.

Helpful Links

Here’s an article for the gardeners in the community to help them choose and grow plants that attract wildlife and help the planet as well. It was researched and suggested by Megan of the Knox County Central School Districts. Thank you, Megan!

Flowers and Plants to Attract Birds and Other Wildlife

Fun Family Activity-Attracting Hummingbirds

Backyard Bird Watching: The At-Home Audubon Guide

Mobile Apps for Nature Travel and Birding Tips

What You Need to Know About Bird Watching with Kids

How to Photograph Birds

This article was contributed by BirdOculars reader, Colleen Stewart. She writes a blog, PlayDateFitness, where she helps parents (and grandparents) set up activities so parents and children get out of the house, bond and learn the benefits of physical fitness together. All while having fun!

Related

Filed Under: Bird Feeding, Birdwatching Tagged With: Birdwatching

About Jeff

I am an avid veteran birder who specializes in making back yards come alive with happy visitors! Let me teach you how!

Founder of BirdOculars.
Follow me: Website / Twitter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Viggo Crowe says

    June 16, 2020 at 2:03 pm

    I appreciate you touching on how it’s honestly not that hard to attract more birds to your property. My spouse and I are thinking about doing more bird watching this year with our kids. It would be great if we could find some time to get in the outdoors to see more birds than we could at home.

  2. Jeff says

    June 17, 2020 at 1:30 pm

    Hi Viggo,

    Any time you can spend in the outdoors will pay dividends many times over. Not to mention the habit you could instill in your children. Win-win, as cliche as that is-LOL!

    Lately, I’ve been getting my work out of the way early so I can just sit outside and watch my birds and squirrels. I’m averaging about an hour/day. I know small bites might be the best way to start though.

    Thank you for sharing and reading my blog!

    Jeff

  3. Alasco López says

    December 5, 2020 at 8:56 am

    What a beautiful picture!
    If you want to see more photos of birds, I share you my blog.

    https://avesdecordobayargentina.blogspot.com

  4. Jeff says

    December 5, 2020 at 9:44 am

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful blog, Alasco!

  5. Julio Cardona says

    July 23, 2021 at 2:13 pm

    Hi Jeff,

    Thank you so much for sharing amazing content about birding with the kids. Birding is a great hobby because it helps you connect with nature, but it also has so many health benefits like stress reduction. This is a great hobby to introduce to the youth!

    Keep up the great work!

  6. Jeff says

    July 24, 2021 at 10:07 am

    Thank you so much, Julio, for your kind words and help with this project! And yes, just sitting still and watching is my favorite stress reduction/connection practice.

    Jeff

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