I have a renewed interested in bird watching thanks to two new additions to my family.  Keeping children occupied and teaching them about the world around them is a full time job.  I have found that birding is both fun and educational.  Children seem to have a natural interest in birds.  It starts with reading books about ducks and other farm animals.  Then we go feed the birds at the park.  Then going on a hike we see all kinds of wildlife ranging from humming birds to bald eagles.

Getting children interested in nature is important for their long term development.  trying to understanding how the natural world functions at an early age is a helpful way to stimulate a child’s mind to think logically and scientifically.  My family lives in the desert southwest, more specifically, Phoenix.  Despite the fact that we live in the city, we have an abundance of living creatures in our back yard.  Every spring we enjoy families of birds raising offspring in the bougainvilleas, trees and in eaves our our home.  The kids are fascinated to see living creatures build nests, lay eggs and hatch their young.  Discussing the more complex behaviors with the children is an excellent educational opportunity.