Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts

Monday, October 16, 2023

Synergy: Celebrating Birds



BIRDS are warm-blooded vertebrate covered with feathers. They have two wings, two legs, a beak, and no teeth. The young hatch from hard-shelled eggs. People who enjoy observing birds are called birders or bird watchers.


To understand a concept, it’s useful to read a cluster of books related to a theme. Explore these recently published books for young people:


LISTEN TO THE BIRDS written by Yoann Gueny, Donald Kroodsma, and Léna Mazilu takes readers on birding adventures in a variety of habitats across North America. Children are introduced to each bird, its call, and interesting facts. Colorful illustrations bring each bird to life. The book concludes with a glossary, notes about birdsong, and additional resources. Readers are encouraged to download the Birdie Memory app to extend the experience. ARC courtesy of Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton.


HOW TO BIRD by Rasha Hamid is an attractive picture book sharing the world of birding with young children. Readers learn about the tools and activities of birders. Children are encouraged to listen for common bird calls, watch for birds, record observations, and celebrate success. The book concludes with useful additional information for young birders.  ARC courtesy of Free Spirit Publishing.


HOW TO LOOK AT A BIRD: OPEN YOUR EYES TO THE JOY OF WATCHING AND KNOWING BIRDS by Clare Walker Leslie encourages readers to observe birds, look for specific features, and enjoy bird watching. Although written for a general audience, this beginning guide is highly visual approach and useful for all ages. The observation prompts and emphasis on commonly seen birds  are particularly useful for youth readers. ARC courtesy of Storey Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Group.

Thursday, June 01, 2023

Timely Take-aways for Life-long Learning: Bird Species


From eagles and hawks to pelicans and owls, several new works of nonfiction for adults examine the lives of specific bird species. Along the way, they discuss the importance of conservation and strategies being use to save these beloved species.


The Bald Eagle
Jack E. Davis, 2023, Liveright, an imprint of W. W. Norton
Themes: Nature, Animals, Birds, Eagles

This cultural and natural history of the bald eagle takes readers on a journey through time and across America. Of particularly note is how this comprehensive bird biography weaves the story of the eagle into our national narrative from science to politics across generations.

Take-aways: Packed with amazing anecdotes and inspirational stories, this fast-paced and often moving account of America’s beloved symbol provides endless examples teachers can use throughout the curriculum.

The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty
Sy Montgomery, 2022, Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
Themes: Nature, Animals, Birds, Hawk

Combining anecdotes from his personal experiences with hawks with fascinating insights into their life and behavior, Montgomery celebrates this magnificent predator through an engaging narrative and sixteen pages of color photographs.

Take-aways: Teachers will find useful examples about falconry and raptor behavior to weave into the life science curriculum.

Brown Pelican
Rien Fertel, 2022, Louisiana State University Press, Longleaf Services
Themes: Nature, Animals, Birds, Pelicans, Environmental Conservation

While exploring both the science and history of brown pelicans, Fertel places emphasis on on the connections between humans and this beloved bird.

Take-aways: Educators will find useful examples of effective and ineffective conservation efforts over time.

The Wise Hours: A Journal into the Wild and Secret World of Owls
Miriam Darlington, 2023, Tin House Books, an imprint of W. W. Norton
Themes: Nature, Animals, Birds, Owls

Sharing her fieldwork from around the world, this nature writer conveys her passion for owls and the natural world. Weaving together the story of her journey to understand owls with her personal challenges, the author creates a compelling narrative connecting our two worlds.

Take-aways: Science teachers will enjoy reading about the author’s encounters with a wide range of owls in the wild.

A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save our Vanishing Birds.
Anders Gyllenhaal & Beverly Gyllenhaal, 2023, Simon & Schuster
Themes: Nature, Animals, Birds

This fast-paced nonfiction narrative examines the quest to stop the collapse of bird species. The journalists share stories of rescue missions from mountains and plains to coastal areas across America.

Take-aways: The book demonstrates a wide range of strategies for addressing birds on the brink of extinction. Use these examples to inspire young scientists.

Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb

Monday, September 05, 2022

Synergy: Northern Mockingbird


The Northern Mockingbird is an omnivore often found in open areas and forest edges of North America. Known for its mimicry and intelligence, the bird is able to recognize individual people and imitate a variety of animal sounds. They can be found in both urban and rural habitats.


Read the recently published nonfiction book, then learn more at the website:


DUET: OUR JOURNEY IN SONG WITH THE NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD by Phillip Hoose takes an interdisciplinary approach to telling the story of the relationship between humans and mockingbirds through history. Written for young adults, Hoose uses the Northern Mockingbird to demonstrate the resilience of both birds and humans. Concluding with an emphasis on climate change and other environmental challenges, readers are invited to explore ways to help mockingbirds and other songbirds. ARC courtesy of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, an imprint go Macmillan.


The NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD from All About Birds provides an overview to the life, location, and sounds of the Northern Mockingbird. Visit the page at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Mockingbird/overview.


The NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD from Audubon shares background information about the bird along with information about its climate vulnerability. Visit the page at https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-mockingbird.









Thursday, September 01, 2022

Timely Take-aways for Life-Long Learning: Birds and Birders

Several new and upcoming books explore the world of birds and birders. From naturalists and scientists to backyard birders, these books explore the wide range of ways people connect with birds.


Best Little Book of Birds: The Oregon Coast

Sarah Swanson, 2022, Timber Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group

Themes: Nature, Birds

Organized into 25 short chapters, readers learn about bird families found on the Oregon Coast. The first book in a new series of pocket-sized birding guides, this book provides quality photographs, useful icons, and short text blocks with key bird information.

Take-aways: Introduce students to birding through this appealing new field guide series. 


Audubon at Sea

Edited by Christoph Irmscher & Richard J. King, 2022, University of Chicago Press

Themes: Nature, Birds

Weaving together Audubon’s writings and artwork, the editors explore this famous artist and naturalist’s connect with the sea and waterbirds.

Take-aways: Explore this book for examples of the challenges educators and students face in addressing the legacy of naturalists such as Audubon who killed for his art.


Woman, Watching: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay

Merilyn Simonds, 2022, ECW Press, an imprint of Baker & Taylor Publisher Services

Themes: Biography, Naturalist, Birds

While living in an isolated cabin in Ontario, Canada, Louise de Kiriline Lawrence worked as a nurse then devoted her life to studying birds. The author connects the life story of this pioneer of ornithology with her own passion for songbirds.

Take-aways: Use Lawrence and Simonds as examples of how naturalists yesterday and today contribute to our understanding of birds through their observations and citizen science.


Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration

Rebecca Heisman, 2023, Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins

Themes: Nature, Birds

From bird banding to DNA markers, explore the little-known story of the scientists who pieced together the puzzle of bird migration. Crossing generations and disciplines, this fascinating discovery was made possible through the synergy of collaboration to address a complex problem.

Take-aways: Use this story as an example of the power of collaboration to tackle scientific challenges. Also, use it to share how scientific discoveries build on one another.

Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb

Monday, February 15, 2021

Synergy: Snow Birds

Snow birds are birds that don’t migrate to a warmer climate during the winter months. Many of these birds have developed adaptations and behaviors to help them survive the cold, snowy weather.

Read the recently published picture book for youth, then learn more at the website:

SNOW BIRDS written by Kirsten Hall and illustrations by Jenni Desmond explores seventeen birds commonly seen in snowy landscapes. Each two-page spread examines a different bird that has adapted to the cold winter weather. Rather than focusing on scientific facts, the verse reflects the characteristics and habits of each creature. The book concludes with factual information about how each bird has adapted to the cold.

PROJECT FEEDERWATCH from The Cornell Lab asks participants to embrace the winter weather and count feeder birds for science. The website describes how to watch for winter birds and participate in the citizen science project. It also provides help in identifying birds.

To learn more, go to https://feederwatch.org/.

ARC courtesy of Abrams Books for Young Readers

Monday, August 17, 2020

Synergy: Feathers


Feathers are appendages that form an outer covering on vertebrates. They provide birds with waterproofing and thermal insulation along with aiding in flight. Feather coloration helps birds communicate and can also provide protection.
Read the recently published picture book for children, then learn more at the website:
LALI’S FEATHER by Farhana Zia tells the charming story of a child who finds a feather and shows her bird friends all its uses. Set in India, this universal story is both inspirational and imaginative.
ALL ABOUT FEATHERS is an interactive learning experience from The Cornell Lab. Users learn about how feathers are built, what feathers do, and the role of feathers through time. Readers even meet a feather scientist.
To learn more, go https://bit.ly/3jeApRN.
ARC courtesy of Peachtree.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Synergy: Bird Counts


Bird counts are a way to get the “big picture” of what is happening to bird populations around the world. Through the participation of hundreds of thousands of citizen science volunteers, scientists are able to better understand the complex distribution and movement of bird species.
Read the recently published children's book, then learn more through the websites:
BIRD COUNT by Susan Edwards Richmond and illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman takes picture book readers on a Christmas Bird Count adventure. Readers follow young Ava and big Al as they carefully record and share their observations. The book concludes with information about the birds identified in the story. For lesson ideas, go to https://bit.ly/2QyDAHC.
Go to the Audubon website at https://bit.ly/302AYEX for information about the Christmas Bird Count.
Held each February, the Great Backyard Bird Count is a citizen science website where bird watchers of all ages can count birds, share their results, and create a real-time snapshot of where birds are located.
Great Backyard Bird Count https://gbbc.birdcount.org/
ARC courtesy of Peachtree.

Saturday, December 08, 2018

Book Review: Fly with Me

FLY WITH ME by Jane Yolen along with Heidi, Adam, and Jason Stemple is a celebration of birds through pictures, poems, and stories.
Filled with the colorful photographs and illustrations you would expect from National Geographic Kids, this large, attractive book examines all aspects of the world of birds. Sections include the topics of birds, bird history, state birds, bird song, bird viewing, bird migration, endangered birds, bird records, birds in art, birds in story, and citizen science.
Libraries will find bird lovers fascinated by the breadth and depth of this beautifully illustrated work of nonfiction. The book is equally effective when browsed or read cover to cover. Of particular note are the unusually perspectives such as birds in art, music, and stories.
Published by National Geographic Kids in October 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Book: Belle's Journey

BELLE’S JOURNEY: AN OSPREY TAKES FLIGHT by Rob Bierregaard tells the true story of an Osprey’s first migration experience.
When scientist Dr. B places a tracking device on an osprey he names Belle, he’s able to follow her migration to South America and back. Reminiscent of Rachel Carson’s creative nonfiction, the story explores what Belle may have experienced on her long journey. Dr. B’s connection with two young naturalists will appeal to young readers. While the illustrations meet the basic needs of the book, the photographs at the end of the book really bring Belle to life.
Librarians will find an audience for this book among animal lovers and the growing number of nonfiction narrative fans. Share this title on creative nonfiction lists otherwise it might easily get lost among the informational bird books. Encourage science teachers to offer this title as an optional assignment.
Published by Charlesbridge on May 15, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Website: The Feather Atlas

THE FEATHER ATLAS is a North American bird feather identification tool from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Representing nearly 400 bird species, the image database can be accessed a number of ways. First, students can choose to search the database by the common or scientific name of a bird species or group. Second, users can browse the database by taxonomic group. Third, users can use the Identify Feather tool to classify a feather by color, pattern, or other characteristics.
A glossary is included to assist students with basic terminology related to feathers. The Frequently Asked Questions section details laws, rules and guidelines for feather use.
Librarians will find this image database to be a fun way to explore North American birds and their feathers. Be sure to read the Feathers and the Law section before jumping into a feather project with students.
To visit the website, go to https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/.

Wednesday, July 04, 2018

Website Review: Masters of Flight

MASTERS OF FLIGHT from National Geographic is an amazing web-based project focusing on hummingbirds.
In this multimedia article featuring a series of videos recorded with a high-speed, high-resolution camera, scientists studying the biology of hummingbirds share facts and insights into the unique flight of these amazing creatures. In addition to the main article, students can also explore a feature story, behind-the-scenes video, and interactive graphic.
Librarians will find this article to be an engaging springboard into an exploration of animal characteristics. Share the article along with nonfiction books about flight.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Website Review: Cracking the Mystery of Egg Shape

CRACKING THE MYSTERY OF EGG SHAPE from Science Magazine explores an intriguing questions.
This web project addresses the question of why not all eggs are shaped like a chicken’s. This fascinating online article incorporates easy-to-read text with compelling visualizations that help readers understand the science behind the shape of eggs.
Librarians will find this engaging article to be an interesting way to jump-start a discussion of birds and eggs. It would also be useful in teaching students about the many different ways charts and graphs can be used in science to visualize data.
To read the article, go to http://vis.sciencemag.org/eggs/.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Website Review: Guide to North American Birds

The GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS from Audubon provides high-quality information about birds.
Based on well-respected field guides, the website contains information about hundreds of birds. Users can search for a particular bird or explore by taxonomic family or region. For each entry, students can read facts, explore a gallery of photos, listen to birdsong, and video a map.
Librarians will find this website to be a valuable resource for student researchers. Ask students to compare what they find at the website with information found in a print guide or on Wikipedia.
The resource is also available as an app through the App Store or Google Play.
To visit the website, go to https://www.audubon.org/bird-guide.

Saturday, June 02, 2018

Book Review: Paddle Perch Climb

PADDLE PERCH CLIMB: BIRD FEET ARE NEAT by Laurie Ellen Angus is an engaging informational book examining birds and their feet.
Angus uses attractive collage illustrations and simple text to explore seven birds with different foot characteristics such as strong feet for running and flexible toes for picking. The book concludes with an overview of key science facts about each bird along with other useful information for both students and teachers.
Librarians will find this informational book to be useful in the life science curriculum. Feature it in a display with other books exploring the physical features of animals such as those by Steve Jenkins.
Published on March 1, 2018 by Dawn Publications. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Wednesday, March 01, 2017

Digital Spotlight: Macaulay Library

MACAULAY LIBRARY
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Contents: Bird lovers will enjoy this large digital collection focusing on bird sounds, photos, and videos. Users can conducts a keyword search for birds and other animals of interest. They can also explore by species, region, or hotspot. The spectrogram player is of particular interest.
Classroom Connections: Students seeking information about birds will find this to be a valuable resource. Students will particularly enjoy the many videos and bird sounds.
Featured Digital Objects:
Killdeer https://goo.gl/3KEEs2
Great Horned Owl https://goo.gl/PLltAC
To visit the collection, go to https://macaulaylibrary.org/.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Book Review: Ultimate Explorer Field Guides

ULTIMATE EXPLORER FIELD GUIDES is a new series from National Geographic Kids. These pocket-sized books are great for beginning naturalists looking for hands-on experiences. Each field guide is chuck-full of fascinating information.
From pelicans to cardinals, BIRDS by Julie Beer features dozens of well-known birds. The bird entry pages including photos, range maps, descriptions, special characteristics, interesting facts, and help with classification. The book concludes with a glossary, resources, a quick ID guide, and an index. Although birds are grouped into color coded families, this feature is easy to miss.
ROCKS & MINERALS by Nancy Honovich examines a wide range of rocks and minerals found around the world. The book begins with an overview of rock hounding tools and the basics of mineral identification. Minerals are then grouped into categories such as silicates and carbonates. After an introduction to rocks and the rock cycle, readers learn about igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. The sections on fossils and dinosaur bones are likely to be popular with young readers. The book ends with a quick ID guide, glossary, resources, and an index.
Librarians as well as young readers will appreciate the durable book covers and compact format. Set up a spring display with a variety of field guides that encourage children to get outside and explore the natural world. Connect with STEM standards and real-world world science activities.
Published by National Geographic Kids on February 9, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Book Review: Now You See Them, Now You Don't

NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON’T by David L. Harrison is an amazing informational picture book featuring poems about animal camouflage.
Featuring nineteen different creatures organized into five categories, each poem highlights interesting facts about the behavior and habitat of a sea creature, reptile, amphibian, mammal, insect or bird. Laroche’s fascinating cut-paper illustrations bring the habitats to life for young readers.
Librarians will appreciate the endnotes that include details about the creatures featured in each poem. Great as a read-aloud activity, this book is excellent for STEAM projects that combine science and art. Involve you in learning about a creature and creating their own poem and artwork.
To learn more about the author, go to http://www.davidlharrison.com/.
To learn more about the illustrator, go to http://www.gileslaroche.com/.
Published by Charlesbridge on February 16, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Book Review: Night of the Living Worms

NIGHT OF THE LIVING WORMS by Dave Coverly is the first book in the new Speed Bump & Slingshot Misadventures series.
With potty humor and endless puns, this wacky new series will keep chapter book readers howling. Speed Bump never gets up early enough to get the worm. However one day, Speed Bump along with his sidekick Slingshot decide to get up before dawn. The pair soon discover that the worms have something awful planned for Speed Bump’s brother Early Bird. Our heroes save the day, but their reward doesn’t turn out to be the treat Speed Bump expected.
The book’s combination of sketches, speech bubbles, and attractively displayed text will drawn in young readers.
While some of the jokes may be missed by younger children, librarians will find that the wacky illustrations and silly story will appeal to the target audience. Add this to the library’s collection of humorous chapter books for the primary grades.
Learn more about the author at http://www.speedbump.com/.
Published by Christy Ottaviano Books from Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan on October 20, 2015. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

Tech Review: All About Birds

The ALL ABOUT BIRDS website (and app) from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology provides high-quality information about 599 species of birds.
The Bird Guide section contains a database of birds that can be browsed by name and shape or taxonomy. A table also shows the most popular birds. For each bird, lots of information is provided including identification, life history, sound, images, and video.
The Bird Cams section provides access to fascinating bird cams for barn owls, barred owls, hawks, herons, ospreys, albatross and Cornell feeders.
The Birding Basics section contains frequently asked questions, ideas for becoming a bird watcher, suggestions for attracting birds, help for taking photographs, a list of birding festivals, favorite places, and more.
The Living Bird section contains articles from Living Bird Magazine in the areas of science, conservation, art, people, travel, history, and photography.
The Get Involved section provides information about citizen science and choosing projects. Many Citizen Science projects are available such as the Yard Map, BirdSleuth, CamClickr, Urban Birds, and Great Backyard Bird Count.
To access specific information, use the search tool to explore the website and/or bird guide.
To keep up-to-date on new information, check out the social media elements including the blog, Facebook page, Pinterest site, Google+, and Twitter.
A YouTube channel provides access to dozens of videos. Go to https://www.youtube.com/user/LabofOrnithology.
The Merlin Bird ID App provides free, instant identification help for 400 North American birds. To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/merlin-bird-id-by-c…/id773457673….
To visit the website, go to http://www.allaboutbirds.org.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Tech Review: National Pollinator Week

NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK is June 15-21, 2015. Pollinator Partnership is an informational website the promotes the health of pollinators that are critical to food and ecosystems. There’s also an app available called BeeSmart: Pollinator Gardener that guides users through the process of selecting plants for pollination.
Sponsored by dozens of government agencies, industries and corporations, non-profit organizations, and foundations, the website includes guides, helpful resources, and ways to get involved with protecting pollinators.
The “About Us” section explores information about the project’s mission, people, partners, and projects. The What Is Pollination? page answers FAQs about pollinators and pollination. Check out the Projects page for links to many ongoing activities related to pollination. The SHARE (Simply Have Areas Reserved for the Environment) page provides step-by-step instructions for how to plant for pollination. Users can even share their project online.
The “Planting Guides” section provides free information and guides for selecting plants based on your ecoregion by zip code.
The “Useful Resources” section links to dozens of websites focusing on topics such as bees, education, farming/ranching, gardens, hunting/fishing, monarchs, medicinal plants, and more.
The “Get Involved” section explores many ways that individuals can have a positive impact by making a difference in the lives of bees, birds, butterflies, and bats. The page includes PDFs on pollinators that can be downloaded and printed, activities for kids, and other resources.
The 2015 “They Don’t Eat Their Pollinators” infographic focuses on carnivorous plants of North America and their pollinators. This poster would be excellent as part of a display featuring books and other materials about the importance of pollination.
To visit the website, go to http://www.pollinator.org.
For resources associated with Pollinator Week, go to http://www.pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2015.htm.
Download the 2015 poster at http://www.pollinator.org/poster2015_ab.
To download the BeeSmart app, go tohttp://www.pollinator.org/beesmartapp.htm