I love spending time in the woods with the kids. In the past few years we have gotten more into birding as well. This is actually the second year I am coaching my daughter in Feathered Friends for the Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad too. So why are birds so special? Because they offer the perfect opportunity to see things in nature, and to do so requires everyone to be quietly observant!
There are two great programs available through the Washtenaw County parks and Recreation program in May that I wanted to highlight. They are perfect opportunities for beginning birders and they are free events! Be sure to check them out.
On Saturday, May 2 at the Kosch Headwaters Preserve (Prospect and Ford Roads), walk through open fields, dry woods, wet woods and more to see the birds living there. The area is perfect for birding and should provide a nice variety of spring birds. Bring binoculars and field guide if you can. Beginning birders welcome! Faye Stoner leads this walk starting at 8:00 a.m.
Then on Saturday, May 9 at County Farm Park (Platt Road entrance), bring the kids to the free event called "Birdwatching For Kids." Celebrate backyard and urban birds on International Migratory Bird Day! The program will start with some basic bird identification tips and then head out into the gardens, fields and wooded areas of County Farm to see what birds we can find living in the park. The information collected that day will be sent to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to add to their data on birds that live in urban areas. Bring binoculars and field guide if you can, but some materials will be provided. Children ages 6 and older are welcome to participate. Faye Stoner leads this hike starting at 3:00 p.m.
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