Bird Banding Station - Bird Unit

Have you ever been to a bird banding station? Where was it?

A bird banding station is a place where scientists trap birds and place a small metal ring around one leg to track migration and study birds. The data is used to learn more about birds, and help to protect them and their habitats.

When we were living in Denver, CO we stumbled across the local bird banding station through the Audubon Society and it was fabulous. Banding is done twice per year (May and September) when the birds are migrating. It happens in the morning from about 7:00-11:00 when the birds are most active. After the birds are trapped they are weighed, measured, banded and then set free. Banding sessions are open to the public for observation. After the Denver scientist Marideth, weighed and measured the birds she took a few minutes to educate the public about the bird she caught. She talked about what it ate, what kind of bird it was, interesting features to help identify it and how it lived. Then she let someone hold the bird just before it flew away. My children and I learned so much.




The experience of being so close to the birds inspired a unit study on birds. Here are the excellent living bird books we found to read in conjunction with our study.



Burgess Bird Book for Children is free on-line. We found all the other books at the library.

After reading and observing at the bird banding station my daughter created a beautiful lapbook.









What are your favorite living books about birds?





This post is linked to:
Mums Make Lists


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14 comments:

  1. Awww- so cute! I love the lapbook!

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  2. The bird banding station looks like a great experience.
    Kelly at Little Wonders' Days

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  3. We just re-filled our bird feeder by the kitchen window, so we're seeing alot of "traffic" lately. :) It's a wonderful opportunity for the children to do nature journaling/sketching - inside our house. :)

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  4. Wow, that looks great. I love the idea of a lap book!

    Thank you so much for linking to Fun Sparks.

    Emma @sciencesparks

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  5. That day out clearly had a huge impact on your daughter, I would die of pride if one of mine took to making something like that! We breed our animals here on the farm including the chickens and ducks. Our holiday guests like nothing more than to see the new born's and to hold them too. A great way to learn so much. Thank you for sharing on Country Kids.

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  6. what an amazing experience for your daughter! she looks so interested in what she is being told and shown and the fact she made that wonderful book just proves how much she enjoyed it and it affected her. lovely suff x

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  7. I've not heard of that. Love how you've linked an outdoor activity with indoor craft - with some great ideas.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  8. What an amazing experience for them. I did this many years ago when I was a teenager, on Rathlin Island, which is a tiny island off the north coast of Northern Ireland, they were ring tagging as they called it Puffins and Gannets and I went as a volunteer. I was desperate to get up close to some baby Puffins. It's an experience I've never forgotten

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    1. That's awesome that you were a volunteer for tagging Puffins. When we first moved to Germany I searched for locations and organizations that tagged (ringed) birds. I know birds are tracked all over the world. Unfortunately I didn't have any luck finding any. If you know of organizations I would love the name.

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  9. Wow, this is awesome. I'll have to keep an eye out for such activities in England. Thanks for sharing your activities and resources!

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  10. COOL! My three year old is getting really interested in things like this. We love the Crinkleroot books too.

    Thanks for sharing this on Eco Kids, and I'm pinning it to our board.

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  11. How very awesome. When I was homeschooled we took part in the Backyard Bird Count and various things like that.. but this is a wonderful learning opportunity! Ad Yes! to Crinkleroo... been loving him for years! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday! Please come link up with us again today! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2013/02/fairy-finders-eco-kids-tuesday.html

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  12. Such fun ideas! We love bird watching so much! Thanks for linking to Share It Saturday.

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