| Worried about how much time your child
| |
| | 2 - do talk quietly, for the same reason
|
| spends in front of the computer and TV?
| |
| | 3 - do take binoculars, an essential
|
| Wondering how you can entice them to get
| |
| | piece of equipment
|
| outside once in a while? Consider a
| |
| | 4 - do take a field guide so you can
|
| family birdwatching outing - a great way
| |
| | identify the birds you spot
|
| to get outdoors, learn about nature,
| |
| | 5 - do encourage everyone to start and
|
| share a fun day, and maybe even develop a
| |
| | maintain a lifelist - kids will like
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| new shared passion!
| |
| | putting this onto a computer, where they
|
| Few realize this, but birdwatching is
| |
| | can easily sort to see if a bird is new
|
| America's number one sport, with over
| |
| | on their list
|
| 51.3 MILLION participants, according to
| |
| | 6 - if you have a backyard, do put out
|
| the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Many
| |
| | feeders and birdhouses - you can see some
|
| birders are passionate fans, people who
| |
| | great birds without even leaving the
|
| get estatic over seeing an unusual
| |
| | house!
|
| specimen, but the majority of birders are
| |
| | 7 - do use your ears - when you listen,
|
| regular folks who just love birds and
| |
| | you'll be able to spot birds you wouldn't
|
| being outside.
| |
| | have otherwise noticed
|
| If you've never been out birdwatching
| |
| | 8 - do encourage your kids to learn more
|
| before, you're in for a treat. Find
| |
| | about birds online - there are wonderful
|
| yourself a wooded park, equip everyone
| |
| | sites to help identify birds or just play
|
| with inexpensive binoculars (sharing is
| |
| | bird games
|
| no fun - by the time you switch who has
| |
| | 9 - do read books on bird behaviors
|
| them, the target has often flow away),
| |
| | together - birds are fascinating
|
| and get a basic field guide to the birds
| |
| | creatures, and the more you discover
|
| of your region. Take a notepad along, and
| |
| | about them the more fun birdwatching
|
| start what is known as a "lifelist". This
| |
| | becomes
|
| is simply a list of birds you have seen
| |
| | 10 - do go out in the winter and early
|
| and identified, usually along with the
| |
| | spring - you may have to bundle up, but
|
| date and location of the sighting. Kids
| |
| | without leaves on the trees you can see
|
| love this - everytime they see a new bird
| |
| | the birds much more easily
|
| they get to add it to the list, making
| |
| | Birdwatching is an active, educational,
|
| each new sighting a thrill.
| |
| | sport that gets more enjoyable as you
|
| There are a few basic guidelines to
| |
| | learn about it. Kids and adults alike get
|
| follow when birding:
| |
| | a real thrill out of adding a new
|
| 1 - don't take the dog - the noise will
| |
| | sighting to their lifelists. So grab your
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| scare away most of your chance of seeing
| |
| | binoculars, field guide and notebook,
|
| anything interesting
| |
| | take your family, and go spot some birds!
|
