We took advantage of the extra week for this challenge to also study a bird we have spotted, and especially heard, in our neighborhood- the Mourning Dove.
We use the All About Birds website to learn more about each bird, and to listen to their calls and watch video of them. I also read parts from the Handbook of Nature Study and The Burgess Bird Book. We don't have the other guide books being used by Handbook of Nature Study, but our studies work wonderfully without them. We do have a 1970's edition of American Birds and a more recent edition of National Audobon Society Pocket Guide (West) which I lay out for the kids to look at while they are coloring. Some days my kids like to draw their own birds, and other days they like to use the coloring pages.
Nyah's Goldfinch
Austin's Goldfinch
Working on their Meadowlark pictures- I spied a Meadowlark while driving the other day and it was exciting to be able to identify it!
Working on their Mourning Dove pictures
I love the call of the Mourning Dove! It brings back many happy memories of early mornings and summer evenings in my parents backyard with my kids. Even my son recognized their call from spending time at my parents!
Austin's Goldfinch
Working on their Meadowlark pictures- I spied a Meadowlark while driving the other day and it was exciting to be able to identify it!
Working on their Mourning Dove pictures
I love the call of the Mourning Dove! It brings back many happy memories of early mornings and summer evenings in my parents backyard with my kids. Even my son recognized their call from spending time at my parents! I am really LOVING these bird challenges! At the park this past week I overheard a woman complaining that there aren't have any "good" birds around here, and I couldn't help thinking how sad it is that she feels that way! So far we have only spotted very "common" birds- house finches, robins, mourning doves- at our feeder, but I LOVE watching them! They are fascinating! I love going out early in the morning and listening. I love seeing them sitting on the eaves of the houses- a single bird or couple per house, each calling their hearts out as the sun comes up each morning. I love to hear their calls throughout the day as I make meals, do school stuff, fold laundry, and read with my kids. I love that my 2 year old will sit quietly, watching birds at our feeder, enchanted by all they do. I love watching my older kids quietly sitting by the back door, eating lunch with the birds. I love it when a male and female house finch will sit at our feeder for a time eating and chirping to each other, and quickly flying away together when we come to close. I love that I see the birds everywhere I go, and that I want to learn more about them if we haven't studied them yet.
What a blessing these birds are!!
I could have written your post today. I love *all* birds as well. I think we become so immune to the creation around us that we cease to see the amazing in the unique way each one is made. My favorite time is the morning as well. I can just open the bedroom window and lay in my bed and quietly listen to the sounds of the morning birds. It touches my soul somehow.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your heart. It makes all the effort in writing the challenges worth it when I hear expressions like yours. You have given me a gift today.
Sincerely,
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
I too have wonderful memories of seeing, hearing and watching birds in our backyard. Do you remember when we still had the fort in the backyard, and sometimes when it would rain, we would get a whole bunch of little birdies sitting on the railing under the protection of the overhang. That was so cool. I quit hanging birdfeeders when I realized I was providing food opportunities for the cats, but we still had fun birds visit. We had a set of mourning doves that resided in our vicinity for a number of years--I always assumed they were a matched set and together that whole time. Do they do that? There were always birds coming and going from the top of our big pine tree too. Did we pay enough attention to all the wonderful things going on around us when we lived there? I'd like to think I helped all of you kids develop a love of nature and a curiosity to learn about all those things too. God's handiwork has always meant so much to me and it still does.
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