![]() ![]() This is possibly the most outrageous game I have seen so far in 2021, and I am totally loving it. Of course, we would love to hear about your research too-please share it with us on Facebook or Instagram! Play: SkateBIRD (PC, Switch, Xbox, Amazon Luna) If you are located elsewhere, note your records in your own spreadsheet and see what it shows you about your local area. Afterward, if you are based in Australia, make sure to record your data with Birdata. Each survey lasts only 20 minutes, so you may want to set a time for them too. Use one page (and only one page) to point out the things they need to look for. Image by EG Mum of our DIY Bird Watching JournalĪs fun as all of this creativity can be, it is equally important to teach kids how to record data as well. Color the World: Pens and lead pencils are easy to read afterward but color sparks the memory! Give them a few colored pencils or markers, and see what they do.Bind up the pages, even with some staples and tape over the top. ![]() ![]() Once you step outside, I guarantee at least one loose page will fall out or fly away. Hold It Together: The book needs to be bound.With a blank page, they may consider drawing the bird or its habitat or writing their notes around the page like a bird flying. However, if you give them a lined book, they will instantly restrict their creative side. Kids can still write their notes on a blank page. Be Inspired By the Blank Page: No lines.Keep It Small-ish: Anything larger than A5 is going to be too much of a hassle for kids (and most adults) to carry with them.Whatever you want to do, keep the following in mind: To be honest, you don’t have to make anything you can easily buy a notebook or staple a couple of pages together. This is probably one of the easiest tasks you will have, but it is more about the things to consider than the process of making it. For more details on both events, check out the official website here. The Birds in Backyards Spring Survey is also great as a casual lead-in to the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, held for one week from October 18 to 24. You can then log your survey on Birdata (online or via the app), where it is then used by the Urban Birds team to monitor the health and populations of birds and the impact made by our gardens, our outdoor spaces, and our own behavior. Ideally, you want to be outside doing this, but considering the lockdown requirements in Sydney (and Melbourne), it is still possible to do it from a window or balcony. Over these two months, everyone is invited to spend 20 minutes watching an outside space and note down how many species you see, how many birds within each species, and the kind of habitat they’re using. Birds in Backyards Spring Survey is an initiative from BirdLife Australia and takes place during September and October. Wait, What Is the Birds in Backyards Spring Survey?įair question. Guess what? You can still do your own “birds in backyards survey.” It is perfect for any budding scientist. Yes, I am fully aware most of the world’s population lives in the Northern Hemisphere and thus are experiencing fall and not spring. Let’s fly! Make: Your Own Research Journal for the Birds in Backyards Spring Survey It’s also a great theme idea for entertaining kids no matter which hemisphere you are in. Because if there is one thing I desperately need right now, it’s a simple activity to entertain the 8-year-old for 20 minutes while I finally grab a cup of coffee. It’s not ideal, but we are managing with Lockdown Learning, Zoom calls, and the brilliantly-timed Birds in Backyards Spring Survey-thanks to Birdlife Australia. The Evil Genius Family, like millions of others, is currently in COVID-19 lockdown in Sydney, Australia. Unfortunately, the Make/Play/Watch/Read series has been a little sporadic of late. ![]()
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