The 119th Christmas Bird Count starts on Friday December 14, 2018. At Growing With Science we’re sharing Counting Birds: The Idea That Helped Save Our Feathered Friends by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and illustrated by Clover Robin, a picture book that describes the origins of the event.
We should say right up front that this is not a counting book, although there are plenty of birds to see and identify if the reader should want.
Instead, it is a combination of biography and explanation of the event. After giving a brief overview of ornithologist Frank Chapman’s life and how he came up with Christmas Count idea, author Stemple describes how the it works. She explains that all birds are counted:
Creepers, thrashers, bufflehead, brant, and bobwhites.
All birds are welcome.
And anyone can count, even those who are housebound:
Not all birdwatchers are in the field. Some count the birds that visit their backyard feeders.
All birders are welcome.
She also reveals the importance of the data that is collected in helping researchers understand and protect all kinds of birds around the world.
Counting Birds is a wonderful way to introduce young readers to bird watching and bird counts. Share a copy today.
For more information and activity suggestions, visit Growing with Science blog.
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