Backyard Birding-Hidden Treasure-For Children, and You
Why do people watch birds?
The answer has been taken up by thousands. Bird watching fans have written volumes about the virtues of birds. A few examples, but first- not to overwhelm, or to produce guilt-this is not about peer pressure…this is about connecting your children with God, through the birds He has made.
If it makes you more comfortable, bird watching is a healthy, helpful, and practical pastime parents can enjoy with their children. If you become interested in birds, you will join a vast horde of other humans who think the same. In this case following the lead of others, going with the crowd, will be a wise decision which will provide everyone in the family with both physical and emotional benefits.
This bird feeder complex has multiple feeding stations (room for more than one bird). It is 12 feet from the nearest tree (squirrels can’t jump that far) and has a plastic sleeve (2 in fact ) on the pole to keep squirrels from climbing the feeder. It was made from scrap materials in my garage. It cost me only my time. All of my feeders are old…they have fed many birds in all kinds of weather. If your budget allows new…great, but the birds won’t mind either way. Keep it simple.
What are the virtues of watching birds?
Bird Watchers Digest provides a Top Ten List…here are the top five:
1. You gain new friends…you will meet many others with birds on their mind.
2. Bird watching is a year-around activity…even in cold climates.
3. Bird watching often sparks related interests, you will discover them after you start.
4. Bird watching is a lifetime activity. Age does not matter, starting while young provides greater enjoyment for a longer time.
5. Birds enable us to become earth stewards, naturally, in natural motivated ways.
There are two more from the top ten I like…
+Birds are everywhere
+Watching birds gets you outside.
Here are two more you will not find in the Top Ten List…
This is a DYI Baltimore Oriole Jelly feeder. It is made from 4 old screws to attach the nylon cord at the four “corners” of the bottom of a 2 liter soda bottle. Cost-zero…the materials were in my workroom.
1. Becoming interested in birds will develop your child/children’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills. That’s right, bird watching is good for the human brain.
Watching birds will immediately stimulate your bird watching family thought life.
“Why” questions will come immediately. With them will come the “how” questions. There will be many “what” questions interspersed. Yes, they will ask “when and where” questions too. Answering the questions will take you to local bird experts you will find in your community. They will lead to research. Yes, research skills will improve. This may be the best potential benefit of introducing your kids to birds: they will come to love learning. These are not exaggerations; they are real possibilities.
2. It is unlikely you will find reason two in any top ten birding list.
Backyard birding will teach your children responsibility.
It will give your kids real, “chores” work they can do to support the bird population found in your back yard. What kind of chores are found with bird watching? They will not be strenuous; they will require little exertion of your children. They will require thinking about someone other than self.
This concrete bird bath was a many years ago Father’s Day gift. It requires refilling every other day and weekly cleaning. BUT-the birds come to water. Water is a key to enjoyable Backyard Birding! It is a key ingredient to attracting birds to your yard. It is possible to have water available year around-even in freezing weather.
My list of back yard birding “chores” for kids:
a. Keeping the bird bath filled during warm and cold weather. If your family has not invested in a bird bath, my suggestion is simple. An inexpensive pedestal bird bath is just right. Frills and fancy things are for human eyes. Birds…they need the water. If you live in cold climates, there are bird baths with electric heating elements. The water in them never freezes even well below zero. What are the chores in a bird bath? Keeping it filled and clean and moving it so it can be mowed around in lawn mowing season. You children can do this. It is not difficult. It is a steady obligation. And it teaches responsibility.
b. Keeping the bird feeders filled is a second chore for your children. Yes, there are many, many kinds of bird feed. However, in my opinion, the best bird feed year around is the black oil sunflower. Problematic in feeding other types of bird seed are House Sparrows. Seed mixes with millet, or corn will bring the House Sparrow. If House Sparrows are drawn to your backyard by what you feed, they will attempt to nest in the bird houses you put up. If your budget is expansive Finches will come to Thistle Seed…everyone will enjoy seeing them. In winter Red Polls and Purple Finches may bless your backyard with their presence and beauty.
Another warm season “chore” is keeping the Humming bird feeder filled. Save your money for groceries, no need for special Humming bird food. Make your own sugar water. 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water. The delicate Hummers do not need red dye in their diets. If your feeder (s) have red color, the birds will find it. In warm weather it is best to change sugar water twice each week. More if the water becomes noticeably cloudy in between. Always wash the feeder clean when changing water. An old tooth brush works well to clean hard to reach spots. Your children can do all of this-once you show them how.
c. Time to be blunt-House Sparrow will kill adult Bluebirds, Chickadees, and Tree Swallows which will also seek to use your nest boxes. To prevent attracting the House Sparrow, only feed black oil sunflowers. Thistle seed is great too, but significantly more expensive.
d. A third “chore” for your kids-and you are building and maintain bird boxes. We will devote more detail to this third responsibility in our next “chapter.”
Our goal this time was to provide you with reasons to seriously consider back yard birding with your family. The multi-billion-dollar industry of birding/bird watching is deep with reasons to become interested in birds. To me, birding is a wise family decision because it develops critical thinking and provides real life responsibilities for your children…besides all the other benefits of birding. For now, keep thinking about Back Yard birding…birding you do at home.
Nest boxes are next on our Back-Yard plan.
This male House Finch, seeking an afternoon sunflower snack, peeked around the feeder for this photo.