Related Activities & Learning

You can investigate an array of natural mysteries while participating in Project FeederWatch. The following FeederWatch-related activities have been contributed by educators across the continent. They are designed to strengthen such skills as observation, identification, research, computation, writing, creativity, and more.

Science

  • Natural history: Research and study the strategies birds use to survive
  • Identification: Use FeederWatch’s Common Feeder Birds poster to learn how to identify the birds that visit your feeders
  • Meteorology: Monitor weather conditions to see how birds alter their feeding habits
  • Physics/aerodynamics: observe the different flight patterns of feeder birds
  • Animal behavior: Are some species solitary while others are gregarious? Do different species have different food preferences?

Math

  • Weigh the bird seed in your feeder before and after each count and compute how much seed was eaten. After several counts, calculate average consumption rate.
  • Test and predict how often feeders need to be refilled.

Writing/Literature

  • Journal keeping
  • Poetry
  • Creative writing
  • Etymology–research the history of bird names

Geography

  • Map your count site
  • Research the geographic ranges of birds (see the FeederWatch map room)
  • Learn the official bird of all U.S. states and Canadian provinces

History

  • Develop a time line charting the extinction of a bird such as the Passenger Pigeon
  • Research famous bird biologists or artists
  • Learn the history of bird-related laws

Art

  • Sketch the birds at your feeders
  • Create bird masks
  • Create models of bird wings, bills, and feet

Music

  • Research music that has been influenced by bird song
  • Study bird songs and calls
  • Make your own feeder bird recordings

Additional Resources

  • The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s K-12 Education program provides an array of resources to educators.
  • Learn more about bird feeding and bird identification in the Learn section of this website.
  • Learn about birds on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds web site.
  • Explore Data submitted by FeederWatch participants.
  • Join Project FeederWatch and receive a Research Kit containing the Common Feeder Birds poster, a calendar, and the FeederWatch Handbook & Instructions. FeederWatch participants also receive our annual publication, Winter Bird Highlights.