Backyard Birding for Kids: A Field Guide & Activities (Acitvities for Kids) - Softcover

Lee, Fran

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1586854119 ISBN 13: 9781586854119

Publisher: Gibbs M. Smith Inc, 2005

Synopsis

The newest in our popular children's activity line for budding bird lovers!

This informative field guide and activity book teaches kids about birds of all varieties, in the city, country, desert, or at the beach-because no matter where you go, you're bound to spot a bird! Kids will learn about making the backyard bird-friendly, building a bird feeder, and creating their own bird watching notebook to record sightings, locations, information, and notes from the field.

From city birds (the Ruby Throated Hummingbird) to desert birds (the Red-tailed Hawk), kids of all ages will learn about common and not-so-common birds, with detailed diagrams and illustrations. With activities like how to grow a garden to attract birds and how to contribute to the care of the native birds in the area, this is the perfect book to get kids engaged with our feathered friends at an early age, and to encourage them to go outside and have fun while they learn!

About this title

About the Author

Fran Lee has illustrated and designed many books in the Gibbs Smith activity book series including Cooking on a Stick, Haunting on a Halloween, Riding on a Range, Wishing on a Star, and Putting on a Party. Fran lives in Los Angeles.

From the Back Cover

Children's Activity/Ages 6 and up

Do you enjoy watching birds play in a bird bath? Do you love collecting feathers or get excited when you find an old bird's nest? Do you like to hear birds singing their morning greeting? You must be a bird watcher!

This field guide will help you identify all kinds of birds in the city, country, desert, or at the beach-because no matter where you go, you're bound to spot a bird! The book also includes fun, hands-on activities. Build your own pine cone bird feeder, make a birdbath dripper, plant a hummingbird-friendly garden, start a bird watching club, create a bird watching notebook, and much more. Open your eyes and your ears, and get ready to go birding!

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Do pigeons poke around on the roof of the buildings next door to you? Are there flocks of geese and ducks that visit the pond in your city park? Have you ever watched while a hawk built a nest in the understructure of a huge bridge?

If you are visiting a new city, or if you live in the city, you will have the pleasure of watching a variety of amazing birds. If you have a bird-friendly yard, some birds may visit your backyard all year round, and others may come and go with the seasons. You might think that cities or urban areas are only full of buildings, cars, and people, but cities have many habitats that provide temporary and permanent residences for birds.

The popular birds pictured in this chapter spend some or all of their time in an urban habitat near you. Be on the lookout for them as you take a walk in the city park, visit a garden or nature spot, or go down to the water''s edge by the river or lake. If you set up a bird feeder outside your window you could attract the birds to your backyard.

Monk Parrots

Monk Parrots are tropical birds that originally came to this country to be sold as pets. Believe it or not, these birds can survive a harsh Chicago winter. For example, Monk Parrots have been living in Chicago''s Hyde Park neighborhood, nesting in Harold Washington Park since 1979.

American Robin

" Member of Thrush family

" Adult is 10 inches long

" Red puffy breast, yellow bill, black head, brown wings

" Males are brighter than females

" Young have black spots on tan breast

" Eggs are pale blue color

Did you know that the Robin is the first bird to sing in the morning? Robins like to eat earthworms, bugs, vegetables, and fruit. They also like to take baths, so having a birdbath in your backyard is a good way to invite them over.

Edition details

• Publisher: Gibbs M. Smith Inc
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1586854119
• ISBN 13: 9781586854119
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 64