This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count. You should participate! It only takes 15 minutes of your time (or more if you are a bird-hound like Kiddo). The official website will provide you with a list of common birds in your area and detailed instructions for participation. There's no reason not to get your kids involved.
Like many kids who have older siblings, New Kid worships his big brother. New Kid doesn't quite understand what birding is all about, but what he does know is that since Kiddo thinks birds are awesome, he thinks so too.
(Note: Book covers and titles are affiliate links)
Being only three years old, New Kid is not quite ready for his brother's Sibley Field Guide, but he has been gobbling up some picture books about birds. Here are some of his favorites:
Birds. Simple, delightful and a bit surprising.
Good Night, Owl! I remember this book from when I was a kid and its illustrations still charm me.
No Two Alike. Fairly new and perfect for little ones.
Birdsongs. Birds, sounds and numbers: a backyard bird count for preschoolers!
Lita Judge, author-illustrator of one of our favorite books of 2011, Red Sled, is releasing her next book, Bird Talk: What Birds Are Saying and Why, next month. We are very excited!
What are your favorite books about birds? Will you be participating in the Backyard Bird Count?
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MaryAnne says
We are participating, although so far we haven't seen birds WHILE we were counting! Very unusual for our area, not sure what is up. We refilled our bird feeder tonight, and hopefully that will improve things for tomorrow.
And I adore Kevin Henkes' "Birds". And I'll have to look for your other recommendations, particularly that new one from the author of "Red Sled"!
Raising a Happy Child says
I can count Mediterranean seagulls out of my hotel window at the moment 🙂 Some of the books you listed are our favorites too, especially Henkes' Birds. Thanks for joining WMCIR!