{"id":2493,"date":"2021-02-28T21:30:44","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T21:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mapsmemoriesandmotherhood.com\/home\/?p=2493"},"modified":"2021-03-14T21:00:58","modified_gmt":"2021-03-14T21:00:58","slug":"birdwatching-with-kids-can-grow-into-a-lifelong-hobby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mapsmemoriesandmotherhood.com\/home\/travel-with-kids\/birdwatching-with-kids-can-grow-into-a-lifelong-hobby\/","title":{"rendered":"If we can\u2019t fly, we\u2019ll watch someone who can: Birdwatching with kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Birdwatching has increased dramatically in popularity since we\u2019ve been working and schooling from home, according to Jim and Nancy Carpenter, my good friends and founders of Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop<\/a>, an \u201ceverything you need for birdwatching and feeding\u201d store with locations all over the U.S. People have more time to look out their windows and watch our feathered friends. We’re finding that birdwatching with kids can be an especially fun hobby for the entire family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve loved watching birds since I was a kid. We had a feeder outside our dining room window, North American Birds field guide at the ready to identify birds my family wasn\u2019t familiar with. And my husband loves to tell the story about his marriage proposal atop an overlook at Yellowstone National Park. I was busy admiring a black and white bird while he was down on his knee spilling out his heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birdwatching with kids has tons of benefits – it gets kids outside and into nature (and off electronics); it helps them understand that their actions in the environment can impact other living things; and it can grow into a lifelong hobby. Plus, it is easy to do while being socially distant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Spotting some ducks at Eagle Creek Resevoir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, how do you get started birdwatching? Jim says that \u201cwatching out your window in your yard\u201d is the easiest way to begin. It\u2019s even better if you have a birdfeeder since you\u2019ll attract a lot more birds and varieties. Make sure you either have a field guide or a tablet or laptop nearby for help identifying them. He suggested that the Cornell Lab of Ornithology<\/a> is a wealth of info about birds, and you can even share your bird findings with scientists there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watching birds from the comfort of your couch is fun, but it\u2019s even better to do so outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hiking takes on a new dimension when you’re also looking for birds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve been trying to get out in nature, even when it\u2019s cold, and looking for new birds is a great excuse to brave the frigid air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recently drove to Salamonie Lake State Park in northern Indiana because of a tip on a birdwatching Facebook group that said there were at least 50 eagles roosting there for the winter. I don\u2019t know how many are there, but with patience and a good eye (plus binoculars), we spotted five of the majestic raptors. This really en\u201drapt\u201dured both me and my kids (OK, mostly me), but seeing a rare or iconic bird is just the thing to get them excited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out your local DNR for bird watching events, too. For example, at Salamonie, they have some eagle viewing programs, done via hiking or car caravan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few tips for newby birdwatching with kids:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  1. What to bring<\/strong>: