Fun Bird Stuff

Activities for avid birdwatchers

When the winter wind blows cold, it can be hard to think of activities to entertain yourself and the kids. Luckily, great winter projects start with thinking of what your avian friends will need through the winter and forthcoming spring. You can entertain the kids by offering simple crafts that are not only fun to make, but will also benefit all the birds in your yard.

If you have a sweet tooth, you probably love it when you get your hands on treats and candy. Birds are the same - certain foods are delicacies to them and will bring them flocking into your yard. We've compiled a list of recipes for delicious bird treats that will probably not only please the birds, but also the squirrels that come to feed. Remember to include a bird fountain to help them wash down your concoctions!

Have you ever wondered who actually comes to the feeder? It can be hard to remember names of birds without knowing their identifying characteristics. Even serious birders need a refresher course on their bird identification sometimes. You can learn how to identify birds by their silhouettes, colors and birdcalls. Learning backyard birding identification techniques will help you know who's visiting, always.

If you're looking for the ultimate field guide to birding, well, we can't recommend just one. But you can find a list of bird books that will aid your birdwatching. Field guides help you identify birds and their habitats, food, breeding habits and migration patterns. It helps, before you go out on a birding trip, to read up and make a list of birds you'd like to see. Field guides are part of serious birding equipment.

Birding with kids can be a lot of fun. Kids learn about nature while observing some of their closest neighbors living in the backyard. You can devise some bird-related crafts to keep them busy for hours. Check out our easy-build bird feeders and houses. They'll go a long way towards entertaining bored kids.