Science Fair Judging
Each year, the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV) helps judge science fairs at area schools. We congratulate the young scientists whose research and creativity earns them awards in science fairs each year. Thanks also to Public Interest Communications and Joyce Brundage, our public sponsor for the past 14 years, whose generous support funded the 2007 award winners.
Northern Virginia Teen Birding Club Are you a teen looking for other teens to go
birding with? Are you tired of waiting for your parents' schedules
to free up long enough to take you on a birding trip? Are you eager
to get out birding every chance you get? If so, you might be interested
in the newly-formed Northern Virginia Teen Birding Club sponsored
by Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and Flint Hill School. Both
experts and beginners are welcome. |
Read to them! Selected bird book ideas for children
| Ages 4-8 | |
| Birds in Your Backyard (Sharing Nature with Children Book) Barbara Herkert Dawn Publishers, 2001 36 pp., $8.95 |
Virtual bird watching for young children; the pictures are colorful but crude. Final 9 pages provide useful information on birds (state birds, birdhouses) and other resources. |
| About Birds John & Cathryn Sill Peachtree Publishers, 1997 40 pp. $7.95 |
Very simple; minimal text and beautiful pictures. A good first book on birds! |
| Beautiful Backyard Birds: An
Educational Interactive CD Book TFH Publications, 2002 $13.29 (Amazon.com) |
Provides a wealth of information on birds, relying heavily on video clips displayed on a "mini" screen. Recommended for children ages 4 to 11. |
| Ages 9-12 | |
| The Robins in Your Backyard Nancy Carol Willis Birdsong Books, 2000 32 pp. (paperback), $6.99 (Likely Story) |
The complete lifecycle of robins, with good pictures and accurate information. Includes a glossary and advice on helping baby birds. |
| Rainforest Birds Bobbie Kalman Crabtree Publishers, 1998 32 pp. (paperback), $5.95 (Likely Story) |
The most ecological of the books I reviewed, with beautiful photos, information on habitats, and a short discussion of human activities that threaten tropical ecosystems. |
| Backyard Bird Watching for KidsGeorge
& Kit HarrisonWillow Creek Press, 199772 pp. (hardcover), $13.95 |
A good source of tips on providing birds with food, water, and housing! Includes small photos and short discussions of 20 backyard birds (I do not know how the Ring-Necked Pheasant qualified for inclusion). Harrison has also produced three good videos on backyard birds, also available from Willow Creek Press |
| Take a Backyard Bird WalkJane
KirklandAlliance House, 200164 pp. (paperback), $15.95 |
Developed with the help of a focus group that included students, parents, and teachers. It would be very useful for a bird studies unit. |
| Children and Adults | |
| Eastern Backyard Birds: An Introduction
to Familiar Urban Species (Pocket Naturalist) James Kavanagh and Raymond Leung Waterford Press, 2001 $5.95 |
A durable 12-panel fold-out with picture, size, and major field marks for each of 157 species. |
| Teaching Children About Backyard
Birds Catherine Lazaroff TFH Publications, 2000 64 pp., $7.95 |
Nicely produced eight chapter book covering topics from "What is a Bird?" to "Birdwatching Ethics." I especially liked the chapters providing advice on ways to encourage birding by preschoolers, elementary school children, and adolescents. Two pages (62 & 63) on resources (events, organizations, reading, and field guides) are quite useful. |
| The Complete Backyard: A Birdwatcher's
Home Companion Ragged Mountain Press, 2001 309 pp., $15.37 (Amazon.com) |
11 chapters and 6 appendices. Most of the illustrations are black and white, but there is an 8-page color insert. A good reference at a bargain price. |
| Contributed by: Dr. Dex Hinckley | |
The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
4022 Hummer Road
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: 703-256-6895 Fax: 703-256-2060
E-mail: info@audubonva.org