Backyard Science

Our home is near Quantico outside Washington D.C.  Imagine loads of people and cars.  Yet, our backyard attracts a huge variety of birds.  We have one feeder.  (We have gone through many bird boxes; Mr. Squirrel and Mr. Raccoon knock them apart.  We plan to install a new bird box and bat box soon. )  Have you heard of Identiflyer Lyric or Birdsong Identiflyer?  The device plays birds calls.  Some birds answer the calls.  It can be helpful to identify the bird by its call—known as ‘birding by ear’.  You may want to start with birding apps, an electronic bird life list, or print a paper life list or check list.  (You may want to create a mammal list with a simple field guide.). Let me warn you; bird and bat boxes, feeders, etc. lead to Backyard Wildlife Habitats.  We have a small rain garden because the backyard is wet.  Our back faces a retention pond with several trees.  It’s enough. Children are often naturalists.  Winter is the time to make feeders.  I think wildlife identification is a terrific science supplement—especially if the kids research feeders and bird boxes.