How To Get Your Kids into Birding

Let the Curious Wren be your guide to birding.

She has a whole series of lenses about birding, bird feeders, field guides, bird books, gifts and equipment.

Some lenses are "How To" lenses.

One part of her series is Birding USA -- state-by-state guides to birding -- Florida, California and more!

Go to the Curious Wren hub for links to all her lenses.

Here's a great activity to get your kids into birding - and learn about science too. Join Cornell University's Project Feederwatch and send valuable data to researchers about bird populations. FeederWatch is a winter-long survey that runs every year. The observation period begins on Nov. 11th, but you can join at any time. Kids from about age 8 on up could really enjoy this! Teenagers could participate without much adult supervision. You receive a kit with a colorful calendar and bird identification information that kids will enjoy.

First, you could show the FeederWatch data maps to your kids by going here . Browse through the data already collected to show your kids how your data will be used.

It's easy - you just pay $15 to sign up (annually) and then watch the birds at your feeders and keep a tally of how many of each species you see at one time . So this is really a study of abundance. Of course with some species, you'll only see one at a time (and you tally those as well).

Don't worry that you'll be tied down to watching birds all day. You can do it casually and intermittently, and if you're too busy to watch at all, you just don't send a report. But you do have to take it seriously and follow the directions. Here's how it works - you choose two consecutive days that are one week apart (e.g. weekends). Keep the tally sheet out and jot down your species numbers. (You'll also be asked about temperature and precipitation, and how much total time you spend watching your feeders that day.) Then you enter your numbers online and hit the "Send" button, or you can submit on paper.

Read all about it and sign up here.

Best Bird Feeders -- my tried and true recommendations, and most are squirrel-proof!

Great Birdbaths and Fountains -- a nice selection of practical baths, drippers, fountains and accessories.

Hummingbirds! -- Facts, feeders, books and fun merchandise for hummer lovers.

Bird Shirts and Hats -- Shirts and hats featuring wild birds!