Book of the week
RSBP Pocket Guide to British Birds by Simon Harrap.
Synopsis
A compact, lightweight and informative guide to 215 of the UK's most common birds.
Each species is illustrated in all distinct plumage forms likely to be observed in the wild, and includes concise and succinct descriptions, with details on identification, calls and song, habitat, distribution and behaviour. Along with helpful distribution maps, the species accounts also feature confusion species, with their most important and easily noted differences described.
Weekly Activities
We explained to the children that birds and other animals can find it difficult to find food during the cold winter months so to help out, we decided to make some bird feeders that the children could take home to hang up. There were a few different types of bird feeders including: multigrain hoops, apple hangers and mud/peanut butter discs.
Multigrain Hoops - The first and easiest to make were the multigrain hoops. We cut a length of garden wire with the wire cutters and put out some multigrain hoops that the children had to carefully thread onto the wire to make a ring of hoops. They could then hang up the ring from a branch and let the birds feed.
Apple Hangers - The second bird feeder was made using apples which some children cut in half and others left whole. We either drilled a hole through the core and threaded some string through to hang it from or pushed some sticks into the apple horizontally that the birds could use to rest upon while they fed. The children pushed large seeds (usually sunflower seeds) into the apple to use as bird feed.
Mud/Peanut butter discs - The third design was the most complicated and involved cutting a disc of wood about a centimetre thick. Finding a thin stick about 15 cm long and matching a drill bit to the thickness of the stick. Drilling a hole in the centre of the disc. Smearing both sides of the disc in either mud or peanut butter. Pressing both sides into a pot containing bird feed. Poking the stick through the hole in the disc and finally tying some string or wool onto each end of the stick that the birds could use to rest on while the fed.
Aims and Objectives
Develop hand-eye co-ordination when using tools
Develop manipulation and control
Gain an understanding of birds feeding habits
Create with materials
Be imaginative and expressive
Home Activity
Take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch!
Big Garden Birdwatch is the UK's biggest citizen science wildlife survey. By taking part, you can help the RSPB to understand how our garden birds are doing right now.
Click the link to find out how to take part: