Learn about the birds that visit your yard. 
 

You don't have to know how to identify every species to collect data that is useful for scientists. Participate in real science, get outside, and have fun.

1. Get a Celebrate Urban Birds kit
   
2. Visit the Bird Guide to learn about each species (don't forget to listen to

   Youth at Crotona Park

   the sounds provided for each species)
3. Download the Power Point presentations and test yourself and your kids in a fun way.
4. Go outside, follow the easy protocols, and collect data!
5. Submit your observations to the Lab.
6. Decide to take on one habitat improvement project in your home.
7. Create a work of art, write up a report, create a video, take pictures, write a research paper.
8. Send your kids' to Celebrate Urban Birds so we can feature it!

Explore careers in conservation and nature

• Have students learn more about careers in science, conservation, and nature by watching short videos of staff at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology talk about how they first got hooked! Meet scientists, sound archivists, communication/designers, and more. See videos.
  
  
• Read A Youth's Look at Black & Brown Faces in America's Wild Places by Dudley Edmonson -- This book features portraits and stories of people of color as they describe their experiences with nature. The author begins the book by saying, "So what do you want to be when you grow up?" Explore varied careers  and barriers experienced to involvement in America's natural landscape.

Explore Sound!

Brentwood Science Magnet

• Learn sounds of birds by visiting the Bird Guide and listening to the sound of each of the birds. Have kids go outside, sit or stand, and listen to the sounds of the outdoors. Do you hear birds? Can you draw the sounds? Can you make mnemonics for the sounds you hear?
• Explore bird sound with Colleen McLinn from Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds. Play games and learn activities that support a better understanding of sound.
• Check out mnemonics for bird sounds: http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/birdsong.html
• Check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Bird Quiz to learn more about bird sounds and how to identfiy birds

Read books watch movies about birds and conservation.

Here are some wonderful books and movies to consider

• Pale Male a film by Frederic Lilien – Watch incredible footage of Pale Male a daring Red-tailed Hawk that takes residence in the heart of New York City.
• Greening School Grounds Edited by Tim Grant and Gail Littlejohn. Wonderful activities, plans, and resources for parents and educators.
• Flute’s Journey by Lynne Cherry – A young Wood Thrush named Flute makes its first migration from its nesting ground in a Maryland forest to its winter home in Costa Rica, and back again.
• A Youth's Look at Black & Brown Faces in America's Wild Places by Dudley Edmonson -- This book features portraits and stories of people of color as they describe their experiences with nature. The author begins the book by saying, "So what do you want to be when you grow up?" Explore varied careers  and barriers experienced to involvement in America's natural landscape.
• Urban Roosts: Where Birds Nest in the City by Barbara Bash –  Explore how 13 species of birds have successfully adapted to city habitats.
• Grandmother’s Pigeon by Louise Erdrich – An eccentric grandmother leaves behind three old eggs that hatch into Passenger Pigeons. Blends fantasy and science.
• City Birding : True Tales of Birds and Birdwatching in Unexpected Places –  by Mark Allison, Curtis Badger, Mary Durant, Mark S. Garland, James Gorman, Paul A Johnsgard, John Nichols, Marienn Winn, Julie Zickefoose – You’ll be amazed at what species of birds can still be found using ‘remaining pockets’ of habitat in heavily urbanized areas.
• Songbird Journeys: Four Seasons in the Lives of Migratory Birds by Miyoko Chu – learn about the lives of songbirds as they move from continent to continent with the seasons.

Artwork by student at TRUCE

Have kids make their own books or movies on conservation issues, greening communities, urban nature, or just about birds. Don’t forget to share the books or films with others in the school.

Create a calendar that highlights birds and conservation.  Your kids can research 12 birds or conservation issues, write text, create art, and include suggestions for involvement. Have your calendar printed and sell it. Then choose a charity of choice to donate proceeds.

Integrate the arts:

Chardonnay by Katie Yamasaki

• Hold an art/mixed media/or photography  art showing of student art inspired by the natural world in cities.
  
• Could dance, theatre, or music be inspired by birds, urban nature, and conservation? Let students try!
• Have kids research and then draw birds and other urban wildlife on cardboard or heavy stock paper. Cut out the birds and then take a field trip. Have the kids place their cutouts in suitable habitat and photograph them. See full article and lesson plan by Katie Yamasaki. 
• Have kids create/paint postcards inspired by urban nature and conservation. Send the postcards to the Lab of Ornithology.
• Create a mural inspired by urban nature.

  Youme Landowne in Central Park

• Have students create urban terrariums with city landscapes and green spaces.
• Could you create art with plants? Create a vertical garden or container gardens for the birds.

Create a Children's Garden for the Birds

Assign a portion of your yard or balcony for kids and birds. Children can plant flowers that will feed birds (red tubular plants for hummingbirds, sunflowers, daisies, goldenrods, asters, cosmos, zinnias and bee balm are great choices). Obtain a used container that will hold water and encourage the kids to keep clean water for the birds in it. Place a small weatherproof box that holds a field guide, small booklet for keeping a running list of birds seen and sketches, and writing utensils. Plant flowers in the shape of a bird or butterfly; planting a bean or morning glory teepee for hiding, and creating a "mud hole" for kids or dust bath (dig up soil and mix with sand or ash) for birds.

Keep a running list of birds

Keep a running list of bird species seen at your garden. Compile a list each month to look at the differences.

Put up feeders
An easy way to attract birds is to put up bird feeders. In cities it is best to use feeders with small perches suited for smaller birds that will not easily spill seed on the ground. Spilled food may attract rodents and larger flocks of unwanted birds. Nectar feeders or Nyger seed feeders are also ideal.

by Claire Goldthwaite

Offer water for the birds
Birds need fresh, clean water for drinking and bathing. Make your garden more attractive to birds by providing water! —Few things are more attractive to them than a clean, well-maintained birdbath. A good drinking fountain for birds should be like a shallow puddle (nature's true birdbath). Choose a shallow container that is easy to clean. Although birds prefer water basins that are on the ground consider if cats are a danger. If you think that a birdbath on the ground might be too tempting to cats, put the birdbath three or four feet off the ground. Place some sand in the bottom of the bath and arrange a few branches or stones in the container, so birds can stand on them and drink without getting wet (this is especially important in the winter).

Celebrate the Arts

Take photos of birds visiting your garden and potted plants and submit them to 

by Pedro Fernandes

Celebrate Urban Birds to be featured on our website. You can host an evening gathering to display photos of all your community of home schoolers and give prizes for the best (need ideas for prizes? Email urbanbirds@cornell.edu and we'll help you).

• Create dyes from the plants such as asters, marigolds, and sunflowers
  Learn more about dyeing and working with fibers Cornell Garden-Based Learning Program:  http://www.hort.cornell.edu/plantsandtextiles/
  
• Create leaf prints. It's easy! Just pick the nicest looking leaves you can find in your garden (choose lots of different shapes) paint the leaves with a brush or dip them in paints on flat surface (cookie sheet or plastic). Then press the leaves with the wet paint face down onto paper or cloth. Carefully remove the leaves so the print remains. Choose fabric paints to design shirts and create great designs with leaves, flowers, and other natural material.
  
• Vines such as Trumpet Vine, Morning Glory, and grapevines provide great habitat for birds (nectar, fruit, and nesting habitat) and can also be arranged to grow in ways to create fun "houses" or quiet spots for kids or grownups to sit and watch nature. Use Sunflowers too.
  
• Dry flowers and make cards (Nasturtiums hold their color well, can be eaten by people, and are great for the birds). Learn more about drying flowers: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/gbl/planting/activities/pdfs/dryflowers.pdf
  
• Coneflowers attract many species of birds for their seeds and make delicious Echinacea tea. Simply place 1 tsp. of dried or 2 tsp. fresh coneflower leaves/flowers in a teapot add boiling water. Steep for 15 minutes.
  
• Grapevines provide great fruit for birds and can be woven into baskets

Learn more about Garden-based Arts

Visit Cornell's wonderful Cornell Garden-Based Learning Program website to learn more about integrating the arts and gardening.