{"id":5900,"date":"2025-02-03T18:08:05","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T23:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/environmentamerica.org\/ohio\/resources\/how-young-environmentalists-can-help-protect-birds\/"},"modified":"2025-02-03T18:08:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T23:08:05","slug":"how-young-environmentalists-can-help-protect-birds","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/environmentamerica.org\/ohio\/resources\/how-young-environmentalists-can-help-protect-birds\/","title":{"rendered":"How young environmentalists can help protect birds"},"featured_media":49926,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":false,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":""},"campaign_tax":[],"display_option":[],"issue_tax":[],"resource_type":[100],"region_tax":[],"state":[2],"topic_tax":[144],"class_list":["post-5900","resource","type-resource","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"details":{"helper_taxonomies":{"topics":[144],"collection":false,"press_type":false,"person_type":false,"resource_type":100,"event_type":false,"campaigns":false,"department":false,"level":false,"states":[2],"act_option":false,"display_option":false,"primary":{"topic":144}},"subtitle":"","excerpt":"A guide for scouts, environmental clubs and any young person who wants to help birds.","featured_image":49926,"caption_override":"","updated_on":null,"sidebar_action":"","related_event":"","hide_hero_image":false,"location":"internal","external_link":{"publication_name":"","url":""},"file":null,"sidebar_action_query_string":""},"helper_people_group":{"title":"Authors","entities":null},"helper_downloads":{"title":"Downloads","files":[{"file":100000000056713,"title":"Project kit: How young environmentalists can help protect birds"}]},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"This toolkit is designed for scout groups, environmental clubs and others in grades 5-8. Download a printable version at the link to the left.<\/em>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWhether they tweet, chirp or caw, birds have the ability to fascinate and inspire. Use this guide to explore the fascinating world of birds and learn more about some of the feathered wildlife that we share the planet with.\r\n

Part 1: Learn about local birds and go birding<\/h3>\r\nDifferent places provide habitat to different birds. Start by learning about birds in your own community and go birding with your friends or family. Research birds native to your area by visiting a local nature center, talking to a local bird expert or searching the internet. As you learn, keep notes of common native birds to look out for and their characteristics like size, color, wing shape or beak shape.\r\n\r\nOnce you are familiar with some common species, pick a nearby natural area to go birding. Ideal spots for birding have trees or shrubs for shelter, a food source and water nearby. A park with a pond is a great place to start.","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_accordion","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_accordion":{"title":"Tips for birding","entries":[{"title":"Be quiet and listen.","content":"If you talk to a seasoned birder they will probably tell you that they usually hear the bird before they see it. Even in a busy city with the noise of cars, trains and people, bird calls might be the first indication that a bird is nearby, but you have to really listen. Sometimes the noise indicating a bird is nearby isn\u2019t even its call, instead it is the rustle of leaves or the tapping of a tree."},{"title":"Get help with bird identification.","content":"You can find helpful field guides online or download a bird identification app to learn more about the species you are seeing. Your local natural history museum or ornithological society may have field guides available on their website. Lots of birders use the Merlin Bird ID app, which helps narrow down potential bird species based on characteristics that you input. That app even has a sound identification feature if you are able to record the bird call. Of course, an old fashioned bird book that is specific to your region can also be a handy resource, especially when you are out of cell phone range. Check out your local library or nature center to see if they have bird books or field guides you can borrow."},{"title":"Give birds space.","content":"Always give wildlife plenty of space. You don\u2019t want your birding to cause harm, and these are wild animals who will protect themselves and their territory if you get too close. Although there is a lot of birding that you can do with the naked eye, binoculars can help you see birds better while maintaining your distance."}]}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_featured_resource","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_featured_resource":{"resource":[497]}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Keep a log of birds you identify and any interesting behaviors or characteristics so you can report your observations back to friends and family.","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_large_image","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_large_image":{"width":"wide","image":49921,"caption_override":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

Part 2: Do a bird-safety audit of your community<\/h3>\r\nLots of North American birds migrate which means that they spend summers in the north part of the continent and winters in the south. On their travels, birds travel through cities and towns that we have built with our needs in mind, but many features of the buildings in our cities can be hazardous to birds in flight. Windows and other reflective surfaces, especially those on upper floors of buildings can confuse birds and cause collisions. Artificial lights can also be disorienting at night when many birds are flying.\r\n\r\nMake a list of building features in your neighborhood that might contribute to confusion or disorientation of birds including: windows especially on 2nd or higher floors of buildings, other reflective surfaces that aren\u2019t natural and bright outdoor lights that are always on.","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_large_image","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_large_image":{"width":"narrow","image":56711,"caption_override":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

Part 3: Help protect birds from collisions with buildings<\/b><\/h3>\r\nCome up with a plan to make your community safer for birds. Work with your household, school or local park to do one of the following:<\/span>\r\n