January 6 marks National Bird Day and to celebrate the importance of birds to our environment, we’ve compiled a list of five fun activities to learn more about them!
1. Together for Birds
In PLT’s activity collection, Together for Birds, learners in grades K-5 investigate how birds and other living beings depend on their habitats to survive. From exploring the environment where birds live to channeling creativity and inspiration through poetry, these activities will spark curiosity and instill an appreciation for the natural world.
2. View Birds in Real Life
There’s no better way to learn about birds than to head outdoors and view them in real life! Bring binoculars and head into nature to spot birds in action. Don’t have binoculars? Have some fun making your own out of recycled materials (see “The Shape of Things” activity in PLT’s Trees & Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children).
Too chilly to head outside? Check out Cornell Lab’s Bird Cams, where you can watch live cams from all over the world. You can also download the Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell Lab to record birdsongs and upload photos that help identify the birds you’re hearing and seeing!
Here are some additional tips to get started with urban birdwatching!
3. Build Like a Bird
Birds are quite the engineers when it comes to building their nests! Go full S.T.E.A.M. ahead and encourage little learners to engineer the perfect bird nest using items you can find outside (and inside). Check out the “Tree Textures” activity in PLT’s Trees & Me guide for a how-to on making a nest. Take it one step further and make a yummy edible nest as a special treat – you can find the recipe in the “Home Tweet Home” activity from Trees & Me!
4. Play Bird Bingo
Print out these fun bingo cards and get ready to put your bird spotting eyes on!
5. Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count
Every February, people around the world count birds in their neighborhoods to help scientists better understand and protect birds. Learn more about this annual event and how you can get involved.
More Ways to Learn
Check out these children’s books about birds from our Recommended Reading list:
Watch this webinar by American Bird Conservancy, Project Learning Tree, and North American Association for Environmental Education to learn how to begin environmental investigations using birds to hone the practices of observation, discovery, and reflection.
Looking for more hands-on activities to bring nature into the classroom or take learning outdoors? Find inspiration at www.plt.org.
