Fledging Birder Tip #84
Grow icicles on their noses!
Use the cold weather to your
birding advantage. Bundle the
kids so they can barely walk
and bend their arms. Then head
off to your favorite wintering
waterfowl hot spot.
Get your scope on some
Buffleheads, mergansers,
loons, or waterever floats your
boat. Try to pick a group that is
not actively diving as this will
frustrate your little ones.
Lock the head of your tripod in
place and let them enjoy the
view. If they are really young,
you will probably need to be on
your knees and gently guide
their eye to the scope.
With only their faces exposed,
lookout for "boogcicles"!
Then, you can talk about how
waterfowl are winterized!
Grow icicles on their noses!
Use the cold weather to your
birding advantage. Bundle the
kids so they can barely walk
and bend their arms. Then head
off to your favorite wintering
waterfowl hot spot.
Get your scope on some
Buffleheads, mergansers,
loons, or waterever floats your
boat. Try to pick a group that is
not actively diving as this will
frustrate your little ones.
Lock the head of your tripod in
place and let them enjoy the
view. If they are really young,
you will probably need to be on
your knees and gently guide
their eye to the scope.
With only their faces exposed,
lookout for "boogcicles"!
Then, you can talk about how
waterfowl are winterized!
Fledging Birders is the practice of effectively and creatively bringing the joy and benefits of
birdwatching to people, especially children.
It's hard to convince someone that birding is fun if they have just waded a mile through a
sweaty swamp while dodging flying bloodsuckers only to have their "annoying friend" point
out some distant bird - even if it is an Ivory-billed Woodpecker!
We should help prospective birders learn about birds on their own terms. It is important not
to force it upon them. Instead, give them opportunities to have positive experience with birds.
It's also very effective to make connections between their own lives and the world of birds.
When they're ready to fly with it, they will!
Fledging Birders uses a bilateral approach to inspire new birders. Based on state-of-the-art
educational methods, we will provide birders with practical strategies for sharing their hobby
with others. We will also develop bird centric projects for use in classrooms of various
curricular areas and grade levels.
By bringing instructional theories into the field AND birding into the classroom, Fledging
Birders can help introduce more students to the simple joy and profound benefits of birding.
With introductions out of the way, the wonder of birds and the child's intrinsic curiosity can
develop a lifelong friendship!
birdwatching to people, especially children.
It's hard to convince someone that birding is fun if they have just waded a mile through a
sweaty swamp while dodging flying bloodsuckers only to have their "annoying friend" point
out some distant bird - even if it is an Ivory-billed Woodpecker!
We should help prospective birders learn about birds on their own terms. It is important not
to force it upon them. Instead, give them opportunities to have positive experience with birds.
It's also very effective to make connections between their own lives and the world of birds.
When they're ready to fly with it, they will!
Fledging Birders uses a bilateral approach to inspire new birders. Based on state-of-the-art
educational methods, we will provide birders with practical strategies for sharing their hobby
with others. We will also develop bird centric projects for use in classrooms of various
curricular areas and grade levels.
By bringing instructional theories into the field AND birding into the classroom, Fledging
Birders can help introduce more students to the simple joy and profound benefits of birding.
With introductions out of the way, the wonder of birds and the child's intrinsic curiosity can
develop a lifelong friendship!
Why Birding?!
Birding is a fun activity for millions of people of all ages. Many love to simply watch the birds
or listen to their many songs. Some take pride in making a difference with bird conservation
efforts. For others, the excitement lies in the challenge of building their lists and finding rare
birds.
While birding is very entertaining, it also holds many benefits, especially for children! Some
of the positive effects of birding include:
or listen to their many songs. Some take pride in making a difference with bird conservation
efforts. For others, the excitement lies in the challenge of building their lists and finding rare
birds.
While birding is very entertaining, it also holds many benefits, especially for children! Some
of the positive effects of birding include:
 | improving observation skills | |
| building an understanding of the natural world | |
| providing new socialization opportunities | |
| improving communication skills | |
| developing behavioral skills (impulse control, attentional skills, etc.) | |
| improving academic success | |
What is Fledging Birders?!
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* Fledging Birders is a component of the Education Programs developed by National Biodiversity Parks.
| Have northbound migrants started trickling into your neighborhood? Make sure to point them out to anyone and everyone! |
©National Biodiversity Parks, Inc.
| Sport your support for our efforts with a Fledging Birders' Baseball Cap! |
| Spread the word about NBP's National Schoolyard Birding Challenge! |
| Let's give our youth all the advantages we can to help them be successful. Let's give them a lifetime of joy. Let's get them birding! |