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Bird is the Word! Join the flock, complete this module & earn a feather in your cap.
See
Look, Listen, Watch!
Anywhere you are, there are bound to be birds! Find a comfortable spot to sit or stand and look around. Discover who can count hearing the most bird calls, see the most birds or the most variety! Basic birding is easy and requires only time outside - fun!
Learn
Tips for Birding
Marian from Maryland's Tips for Young Birders
There are bird identification apps available for free such as the Merlin app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
According to American Bird Conservancy, an estimated 300 million to 1 billion birds die each year from colliding into glass from city skyscrapers to individual homes. An additional 1 million birds are killed by feral and outdoor domestic cats.
Do!
Head Outside! DIY Backyard Bird Feeder.mp4Make a Birdfeeder
Watch the video for a fun activity and tasty snack!
*You can substitute or find other DIY bird feeder instructions online
Create a bird-friendly habitat in your yard, patio or balcony. Don't forget some water!
Get Natives - these best support local birds with bugs, berries, seeds and nectar suited to the region
Make a Plan - look at the USDA or National Gardening Association's databases for information
Prepare - check with local garden centers or conservation landscapers for input on your habitat
Prevent bird strike deaths with window decals, screens, netting or paints. Look for solutions online
Build a Birdhouse
NestWatch Nest Boxes & Structures
Use the "Right Bird, Right House" tool to select the best nest!
Keep Cats Indoors to Protect Birds
Have a pet cat? Find out how keeping cats indoors is better for cats, birds, and people with the American Bird Conservancy guide at abcbirds.org
Safety 1st
Before heading outside on your family adventure, please take a peek at our Be Prepared tips.
Resources
Cornell Lab of Ornithology -All About Birds
Maryland Ornithological Society
National Audubon Society
Chesapeake Bay Program Field Guide-Birds
Prevent bird strike deaths with LightsOutBaltimore
Intro to invasives
The swan of "Swan Lake" is the Mute Swan, beautiful but invasive - Research in the Chesapeake Bay area has shown mute swan flocks wiping out entire wetlands of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) devastating entire ecosystems
House Sparrows and European Starlings are also feathered frienemies
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