IBird watching has many benefits for everyone, children included.
Children can benefit from learning about nature and the natural world, by exploring more about the birds they see: what they choose to eat from the different feeders offered in the garden; which different kinds of bird favour which food and where they feed- from a hanging feeder or a level bird table, What birds eat from the wild, such as insects and berries and where different species of birds build their nests.
If children can venture outside to go bird watching then they are getting some exercise in the fresh air, they may even climb a tree or scale a hill in their search for birds.
. Listening to bird song and even hearing the wind blowing through trees is good for a child’s mental health.
I have recently moved into a new bungalow, not far from where I lived before, but the different virilities of birds that are visiting the feeders is astonishing:
We get the usual sparrows, black birds, robins and wood pigeons, this week I have also witnessed a greater spotted woodpecker munching on the peanuts, after the blue tits, great tits and long tailed tits had finished.
I then saw a jay land on the tray of sun flower hearts, as I wasn’t 100% sure that it was a jay as I had never seen one before, I googled it to be sure ( it was a jay).
When my husband came home and I told him about it, he said that he had seen lots of them during the last week, going on to say that they weren’t that special being just black and white ( what he had seen were magpies!)
My favourite new visitor is the pretty nut hatch who runs up and down a log , which we have propped up against the shed, he then dives in head first to the container attached with unsalted peanut butter inside.
Other birds who fly in on a regular basis are green finches; always in pairs. yellow hammers and a siskin
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Any children who visit, now that the lockdown is being lifted will be encouraged to bird watch out of my living room window.
Attracting birds to the garden here
As always questions, comments and topic suggestions( which I always need) are welcome.
Until next time,
Karen
x
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Oh these birds that you spotted are beautiful. We love to do bird watching too when we go hiking. Being out in nature is so wonderful and the kids absolutely love exploring and seeing new things #mischiefandmemories
Thanks for leaving your thoughts, Noleen
How lovely to see such a variety of different birds in your garden. We have greenfinches, robins, pigeons, blue tits and magpies visit our garden regularly and the occasional parakeet. We spotted a jay last week while visiting the open air museum – they are such beautiful colourful birds. My daughter loves watching the birds in our garden and is getting quite good now at identifying them. #MischiefandMemories
I would love to see a parakeet on my feeders, Louise
Great post! I home school and one year we participated in one of Cornell Lab of Ornithology studies. It had a page you could print out about your observations of the bird activity in your yard/neighborhood during a certain time of year. It was fun for my daughter and living close to a bird sanctuary, we made that summer about bird watching.
I’ll share the Cornell link as they have many studies going and you may find one that you and your children can participate in adding a level of science and community to the fun <3
https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/engagement-in-science-and-nature/
Coming to you from the #ALittleBitofEverything link party
Thanks for the link, Renee, I will have a look at this
Fun to read this on a morning when my grandson called out to tell me he saw a junco!
That’s great, Michele, thanks for your comment
We watch for birds in the garden and along the river. I am aiming to get a good photo of the red kites and kingfisher… Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories
How lovely to have had so many birds visiting! We love spotting them too, and every morning see 2 different flocks of sparrows and blue tits popping into our garden to have a sit. There really are so many benefits of bird watching for all ages 🙂 Thank you for joining us for #mischiefandmemories
Glad to hear that you enjoyed reading my post, Annette
I agree bird watching is so good and a calming activity to do x #pocolo
It’s great to hear that you agree with me