Benefits of Birdwatching with your little one

Despite the weather getting colder, there is still plenty to see in the great outdoors. Birdwatching with children has multiple benefits from improving listening skills to building appreciation of wildlife. Read on to learn more on activities you can take part in and what birds to look out for in the winter months.

What Birds can you spot?

• Robins – A staple in the winter season, identified by its vibrant red chest. Encourage your little ones to try and stay still and quiet as they are known to become bolder in winter, often coming close to feeders so you might be able to get nice and close.
• Blackbirds – A common one to spot, with males displaying black feathers and orange beaks, while females are brown.
• Blue Tits – Small, colourful bird with blue and yellow feathers is often spotted at bird feeders.
• Siskin – This is a small, lively yellow-green bird with a thin beak and a little forked tail. Many live in the UK all year, and even more arrive from Europe in winter. How many can you spot?
• Fieldfare – A winter visitor, the fieldfare is a large thrush with a grey head and rump, often seen in fields and gardens looking for berries.
• Sparrow Hawk – Although less common in gardens, these small hawks can sometimes be seen hunting smaller birds. Keep your eyes on the skies when out for walks in fields and woodland areas.

What skills do Children gain from Birdwatching?

Appreciating Nature – Bird watching is a fantastic way for kids to learn about and appreciate all kinds of wildlife. Watching birds encourages empathy for living things and sparks discussions about nature’s balance. Observing birds like hawks in their ecosystem helps kids understand how animals depend on each other and their environment to survive. This is a skill we try and incorporate into activities such as our forest school.

Valuable listening skills – Bird watching can greatly enhance a child’s listening skills by encouraging them to focus on the subtle sounds around them. Birds often communicate through chirps, songs, and calls that children learn to identify, which requires patience and careful listening. Over time, these skills can transfer to other listening tasks, making them more attentive listeners in everyday situations.

Responsibility – Birdwatching helps kids appreciate nature and learn about caring for the environment. Setting up a bird feeder or bath allows them to take responsibility for feeding birds. This also opens up conversations about natural diets and avoiding artificial ingredients in bird food. Kids can even create their own bird seed mixes, for example of how to make your own bird feeder click here