Wildlife Viewing - With Your Child

drawing of family With Your Child

Migratory Birds

photo of migrating birds

Spring is a good time to investigate the concept of animal migration with your child. Many kinds of animals migrate, from gray whales and bats to butterflies and blue crabs. But birds win hands down for long-distance migration and sheer numbers of migrating individuals.

Birds move seasonally to take advantage of rich feeding and breeding areas and warm winter climates. Their movements provide an extraordinary link between countries, cultures and conservation practices. Florida is an important place for migrating birds. After a winter spent in Central and South America, some birds head here to spend the summer and nest and raise their young. Others just rest here before continuing to the northern U.S. or Canada. Here are some activities to share with children:

Read: “Just Two Wings” by Janet Eaton Givens; “This Way Home” by Normand Chartier; “The Moon of the Winter Bird” by Jean Craighead George, and “On the Wing: American Birds in Migration” by Carol Lerner.
Landscape your yard: Create food and protective cover for migrating birds by planting native trees and shrubs in your yard. Use "Planting a Refuge for Wildlife" as a reference for trees and plants that provide food for various birds.
Moon Watch: Use binoculars to watch migratory birds pass across the face of the full moon.
Attend a "Welcome Back Songbird" Celebration in the spring. Check our Festivals and Events Web pages for when and where.