Introduce Your Kids to The Wonder of Birds

By Connie Goldin, MA, MFT

I live along on the coast in San Diego, California. Everyday, throughout the day, I see both sea birds and land birds just by looking out the window. I can sometimes see a hummingbird in the foreground and a pelican in the distance, in the same glance. I have had egrets in my yard and a falcon in my bushes. I am thrilled when I catch sight of a heron, with its big floppy wings, flying overhead. I am equally delighted when tiny finches decide to visit my yard.

Something I find curious is that when my kids were little, I never looked up! I think I must have been busy keeping an eye on them. It wasn’t until they left for college, that I realized we had night herons in the alley and that orioles came every spring to knit their bag-shaped nests from palm fronds in the palm trees. Now I am always on the lookout for them. There truly is something very accurate about the Bible passage: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Even if you are in the season of raising small children, take a moment and look up. There are probably interesting birds in your neighborhood, too. I think families can experience it all at the same time. There are such wonderful books for children about birds.Even the youngest member of the family can enjoy learning about our feathered friends. Birds are so amazing-they fly, have feathers, eat worms and bugs, carry twigs in their beaks, and sometimes fight passionately with each other. The other day I heard a loud bird ruckus outside my window. When I looked out, there was a sparrow riot going on. One sparrow had another by the top of the head and the poor bird was dangling from his assailant’s beak. I couldn’t bear it. I had to close the shutters and hope that those crazy birds worked it out amongst themselves. Hmmm…that reminds me of squabbles kids have at times, growing up. Sometimes it is better to just let them work it out by themselves.Thankfully, they grow up. I can’t confidently say the same thing about the two fighting sparrows!

Here are some terrific books on birds that are available on Amazon.com or at Barnes and Noble.

Exploring Birds Through Books

This board book is a charming introduction to a goose and her boots.

Beginning readers will love this silly egg story.

This magpie is a thief everyone can love.

Bird & Bee has fabulous graphics and colors.

Make Way for Ducklings is a timeless classic.

Birds, Nests and Eggs is a great resource.

BIRDS is beautiful, informative and artistic.

Kids have such an amazing capacity for learning. If you introduce them to the names of birds in your area, they will learn them quickly and dazzle their grandparents when they confidently point out an avian friend.