Fun Friday activities are quick-and-simple ways to explore nature in your own backyard.
Last weekend’s family nature club adventure found us bird watching at Malibu Lagoon State Beach. I thought a bird watching scavenger hunt was in order, so I created one.
A scavenger hunt is a great way to make bird watching fun, especially for younger kids and those new to bird watching.
Our group turned into true hunters, on a mission to find each of the items on the list. We discovered feathers, birds that swim,
bird tracks (our guides said these might belong to seagulls),
and one of the favorite items on this list, bird poop.
Remember: You don’t need to look any further than your own backyard for birds and signs of birds. Feel free to modify the bird watching scavenger hunt list I’ve created to work for your area.
Take-Home Tips
- Bring something to write with. Crayons or markers work best because they don’t require something to write on.
- Encourage use of multiple senses. Bird watching requires some stealth. Point out bird sounds you hear or clues you see that might help you identify the birds you spot.
More Ideas for Winter Outdoor Fun
- Play with pebbles.
- Make a mess outside with splat yo-yo painting.
- Search for signs of spring around your neighborhood.
- Go on a winter nature scavenger hunt.
- Or try one of these 30 Ideas for Winter Backyard Nature Fun.
And if you live in the Los Angeles area, head to the beach! Winter is the perfect opportunity to fly a kite, build sandcastles and more – with few crowds and no heat to contend with. My choice? El Matador State Beach in Malibu.
Happy exploring!
@Mel: We've definitely become big fans of Malibu Lagoon. Too funny about the birds vs. wildflowers thing! I think a wildflower scavenger hunt is a great idea!
Your blog makes me nostalgic;) We used to love to play in the lagoon at Malibu. A bird scavenger hunt is a great idea. Maybe I'll do something similar with a wildflower scavenger hunt this summer (I'm much better with flowers than birds).