All Age Activity ideas> Take part in the RSPB Garden Bird Watch> Visit an RSPB bird reserve> Find an expert to take you bird watching> Visit tidal and non-tidal rivers and compare and contrast> Watch someone netting and ringing birds> Help someone who keeps chickens – feed them/collect the eggs

In this activity we want you to find out more about birds, where they live and what they eat.

Take your pick from the list of suggested ideas, which may have come from existing resources (e.g. Roundabouts / Handbooks / Badges / GFIs / Octants and other Girlguiding publications or choose your own activity).

You can gain your badge by challenging yourself to do something new and participating in any activities involving being outdoors and observing birds.

Birds

Brownie ideas> At dusk look for birds gathering to go home to their roost> In winter look for birds’ nests which were used in the summer in the bare branched trees> Build a birds nest in the branches of a tree and see if it would support a hardboiled egg> Learn to recognise and name 10 different birds in your local area> Sit still for 5 minutes and use binoculars to look at birds> Make monkey nut chains and decorate a tree outdoors for Christmas> Provide a bird bath and investigate the best position to put it in a garden/field> Visit a bird reserve with an expert and spend time observing birds> Collect feathers and look at them under a magnifying glass> Dry sunflower heads and feed the seeds to birds

Rainbow ideas> Learn to recognise and name 5 different birds in your local area> Make a birds nest outdoors big enough for you all to fit in!> Make a bird feeder and place it where you can watch the birds

Guide ideas> Make a bird feeder out of an old milk or fruit carton and place it in a suitable outdoor location so that you can observe the birds> Learn to recognise at least 5 different flight patterns> Use binoculars to watch birds whilst out on a hike> Make fat balls and hang outdoors to encourage birds to come> Make bird boxes and arrange for these to be hung in a suitable tree> Make a bird bath and sit it in an appropriate position. Ensure that it is kept topped up with water > Make a bird hide and use it to observe birds

Links /Extensions GFI: Grrreen Animal Active

The Senior Section ideas > Learn to recognise 5 bird calls and share your knowledge with others on a walk> Carry out voluntary work at a bird reserve> Investigate the different types of bird boxes available and make one that is appropriate for your local area > Organise a boat trip to observe water birds

Websites

How to / Activities> www.education.com/activity/article/like_birds_and_make_nest/> www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/play_spring_nest.htm > www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/families/children/makeanddo/ activities/birdfeeder.aspx > www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/thingstodo/how-to-make-a-bird-feeder> www.diyncrafts.com/3515/home/23-diy-birdfeeders-will-fill-garden-birds> www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/b/wildlife/archive/2012/12/14/decorate-your- hedges-and-trees-for-birds-this-christmas.aspx> birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/Decorate-A-Christmas-Tree-For-The-Birds.htm > birding.about.com/od/Feeders/fl/Bird-Feeder-Garland-Project.htm> www.savor-the-rhubarb.com/rhubarb-leaf-birdbath.html > www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/bird_feeder_recycled.htm (Milk carton bird feeder)> www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/wildlife-gardening/how-to-make-fat-cakes- for-birds/34.html> www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/make-your-own-bird-cake-for-the-garden> www.lincstrust.org.uk/discover-learn/building-bird-nest-boxes?gclid=Cj0KEQjw-tSrBRCk8b zDiO__gbwBEiQAk-D31TQnpGEispAozCkZerGBvhLkFXnq4CunSKCpHuz9nscaAvnW8P8HAQ (Making nest boxes)> www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw/make-a-nest-box> www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/Activity-Sheets ( Various ideas including bird boxes and hides)

Let us know what you’ve been up to on the Growing Up Wild website!

Information Websites

> www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/ birdwatch/?utm_source=bbcwebsite&utm_medium=online&utm_ content=bgbwlink&utm_campaign=birdwatch (Big Garden Birdwatch)> www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/?gclid=Cj0KEQjw- tSrBRCk8bzDiO__gbwBEiQAk-D31Qw0Zfn5fDC0_WtNRvsb58eiwgSjZWz6d8pr3eKkfxsaAsFg 8P8HAQ (Reserves) > en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rivers_of_England > www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/ringing/about> www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdidentifier/> www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/hunt_birds.htm> www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/starling/ roosting.aspx (Birds roosting)> www.discoverwildlife.com/wildlife-gardens/how-identify-garden-bird-nests> www.garden-birds.co.uk/> www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/advice/helpingbirds/water/birdbaths.aspx > www.discoverwildlife.com/british-wildlife/see-it/how-identify-common-feathers > www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id?gclid=CjwKEAjwwN-rBRD-oMzT6aO_wGwS JABwEIkJ0O03w-NI-_HfxXUPaAzmVTnzMjppbI1QF84Ny5pK_hoCkrfw_wcB (Bird Identification videos)> www.british-birdsongs.uk/ > www.garden-birds.co.uk/information/tutorials/ (Download bird song)