Not all birds fly south for the winter, which is lucky for us here in Upstate New York, as birding can be a wonderful activity for the whole family all year long. Birding is the observation of birds in their natural habitats. It can be done inside and outside of the home, through a window, on a porch, or on a trail. During these challenging times, birding is a great way to connect with nature, even as we are stuck in our homes.
Next time you are outside or near a window, take a moment to notice the birds. Connecting to the natural world has numerous health benefits for all ages. It allows us to recharge, decrease anxiety, reduce stress and loneliness, improve cognitive development, and it can be fun. Birds are wonderful and wacky creatures with stories to share once you begin to pay attention.
Learn more about our feathered friends through upcoming programs with 4-H. As part of its monthly Mighty Monday series, Monroe County 4-H is offering a free virtual workshop, “Bring in the Birds! Feeding our Feather Friends,” on Monday, January 11, from 6 to7 p.m. In this workshop, explore common winter birds seen in Upstate New York, the basics of birdwatching, and how to safely attract birds to our outside spaces. Participants will create two simple feeders to provide a healthy snack for the birds.
To participate in the hands-on, at-home activities, families are asked to have the following items:
Repurposed Jar Bird Feeder:
• clean jar (ex. Mason jar or pasta sauce jar)
• wooden dowel ~10 inches long
• twine, yarn, or ribbon
• birdseed
• scissors
• strong glue (ex. Gorilla glue)
• optional: beads for decoration
Suet Bird Feeder:
• 1/2 cup bacon fat (can substitute with lard or shortening)
• 1/2 cup nut butter
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup birdseed
• 2 paper cups
• plastic mesh bag (repurposed garlic, onion, or other produce bags work well)
The registration deadline for this free program is January 9. Families can register for this event at https://bit.ly/3rjh3Pv. For more information on this and other Monroe County 4-H events, visit http://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/events.
The January Mighty Monday workshop is a great lead-in to the New York State (NYS) 4-H Fly By series. This free online series, put on by Cornell University Youth Nature and Outdoor Education Program Work Team, will take place this winter in four sessions (January 20, January 27, February 3, February 10). Topics covered include bird identification, game birds and waterfowl, birds of prey, and citizen science projects. A bird identification guide will be provided to those who participate in all four sessions. The maximum number of guides given to a family will be one. 4-H Fly By will conclude right before the Great Backyard Bird Count, spring migration, and nesting season.
Families can register for the NYS 4-H Fly By series at https://bit.ly/2Kh84Of.
The Monroe County 4-H Program is offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension to the youth of Monroe County. Learn more at http://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/4-h-youth-development.
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