Backyard bird watching with Harry: Harry Johnson

One of the reasons I’m doing this article is promote bird watching in the valley. The other is to get kids interested in birds and appreciate birds as something other than an object to throw rocks at. It can be a fun and inexpensive hobby for kids and families.
Bird Watching for kids:
There isn’t a better nature-oriented activity for kids than bird watching. What child hasn’t been delighted to see his first bird up close? Birds are a natural delight for kids, and they can be seen anywhere in the world. Even in your own backyard.
It’s more than observing the birds. It’s taking an interest in the actual birds they are seeing. It’s learning their names, identifying their markings, and observing their activities. It’s listening to and learning their songs. It’s learning their behavior and habitats. It’s learning and appreciating nature and the world around them that doesn’t include the T.V. or video games.
Where can you go to watch birds?
Bird watching can be as simple as setting up a bird feeder or bird bath in your backyard which invites wild birds to come to you. Walking in your neighborhood or hiking are great ways for children to get exercise that turns into a fun fulfilled adventure. Start with your backyard or neighborhood and learn the birds there. As you become familiar with the local birds, it’s time to expand out. You may think about taking trips to areas that will feature different species than you have locally.
What do you need?
Bird watching is an inexpensive hobby, especially compared to other activities for children. You’ll need a pair of binoculars. It is more fun if everyone has their own pair, so nobody misses out on a sighting. If you check the internet you can find binoculars just for kids. You don’t need an expensive pair for starters. They will need a field guide to help them identify what they are seeing. Check the local used book stores before you go out and buy a book. I would try the Petersons Field Guide as your first book. If your children are older you may want to think about getting them a camera. Have them start a bird list of the birds they’ve seen and dates and where they’ve seen them. In the Petersons Field Guide you will find the bird list in the back of the book. Just check off the birds you see and mark the date. It’s very easy.
Backyard Bird Feeding:
Don’t miss out on one of the best bird watching activities for people of all ages, especially for children, feeding birds in your own backyard. It can be as easy as putting out a feeder or spreading the seed out on the ground. But if you really want to attract birds add a bird bath. You may want to think about adding a bird house and sit back and watch the new family move in. Just watch the smiles come when it’s time for the new family have babies. The whole family and watch the feeding of the young. What a delight for the kids of all ages.
Bird watching and backyard feeding are wonderful hobbies for the whole family to enjoy. Try it one afternoon and see for yourself how your family bonds while enjoying the fresh air, local scenery and most of all, the natural world around you.