Free as a bird

I spotted a birdbath on my morning walk, sitting on the nature strip outside a house in my neighbourhood. Beside it a handwritten sign announced that “happiness is watching birds”. What a nice reminder! Goodness knows we all need to find some happiness at the moment… if it can be found in the simple act of watching birds, then I’m all for it.

Even when we’re feeling anxious, even when the news is worrying, even in lockdown… listen carefully throughout the day and you’ll probably be able to hear the cheerful chirping of birds. We’re blessed with amazing birdlife in Australia, about 830 different species in fact. From gurgling magpies in the suburbs to screeching seagulls at the seaside, or soaring eagles in the outback - birds are part of our everyday lives.

As I write this, stuck indoors at my desk on a cold, grey and wintery afternoon, I can hear birds chattering away in my neighbourhood, seemingly without a care.

Have you encouraged your children to notice birds? When you foster an appreciation for nature in your child, you give them a gift that will last a lifetime. As parents it’s important to guide our kids to observe and celebrate natural things around us, and noticing birds will benefit them in many ways, including:

• inspiring a love of nature

• practicing mindfulness by taking a moment to pause and observe the world around them.

• learning environmental responsibility

• training their vision

• sharpening their hearing as they learn to listen to each unique song

Pictured below are the 10 most common birds species in Australia, good ones to teach your child to identify.

This gorgeous graphic is from www.aussiebirdcount.org.au
Each year the Aussie Backyard Bird Count invites people to head to their backyards and local green spaces to count their local birds. It’s an example of “citizen science’ and gathers important data for Birdlife Australia. You can learn more, or register to be involved, by visiting the website above.

Crafty birds

Birds have been inspiring artists for ever, and you can use birds as a creative spark too. Your kids will probably have some great ideas on how to depict birds in their own unique way, but if you’re struggling for ideas here are some are some very simple starting points to get you warmed up.

You can make lovely birds using this very simple shape as a staring point. Copy it onto cardboard a few times, cut them out and offer them to little ones to paint or decorate. You can even cut a slit in the body and slide through some paper wings. These look awesome hanging from strings.

It’s also very easy to make a simple bird shape from half a circle. This bird is made using a paper plate with some collage paper and feather finery.

Same shape, different material. These sweet birds were also made using a half circle, this time cut from felt scraps. Details were glued and stitched. A nice project for older kids.

Kids will draw birds in the most uniquely charming ways. Let them go for it.

A classic birdy rhyme

If you make 2 little paper birds and attach them to sticks they become perfect puppet props to teach your child this time-honoured rhyme. You may recall it from your own childhood:

Two little dicky birds sitting on the wall: hold both birds up in the air, move both of them.

One named Peter: wiggle one bird

One named Paul: wiggle the other bird

Fly away Peter: quickly move the hand with "the Peter bird" behind your back to hide it.

Fly away Paul: quickly move the other hand with "the Paul bird" behind your back to hide it.

Come back Peter: bring the "the Peter bird" back into view

Come back Paul: bring "the Paul bird" back into view

Can you think of any other birdy rhymes or songs?
Have fun! x