Spring is in full swing and there is much to celebrate this month. Did you know May is a month to discover several special days? In the United States, we celebrate our amazing moms on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9. International Day of Families is Saturday, May 15. This day, proclaimed by the United Nations, provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. World Bee Day is Thursday, May 20. See what all the buzz is about – celebrate the fascinating world of bees by visiting this live honeybee cam on Explore.org. But today we want to focus on a day that honors our feathered friends: World Migratory Bird Day!
World Migratory Bird Day is Saturday, May 8 and brings attention to conserving and protecting migratory bird species, like cranes, hummingbirds, geese, and more.
We have a fun library program planned to go along with this special holiday! Pick up your Outdoor Nature Scavenger Hunt sheet, available at all library locations through May 31. This is a fun way to get outdoors and celebrate birds and nature! Scavenger hunts are available for all ages, including teens and adults. Here are a few other ways to learn about and celebrate birds in our environment:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Cams: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/cams/
Also from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this BirdSleuth Explorer’s Guidebook is a fun hands-on, in-nature activity for kids and families. Also available in Spanish.
National Audubon Society Bird Cams: https://www.audubon.org/birdcams
Explore Livecams Baby Eagles: https://explore.org/livecams/currently-live/decorah-eagles-north-nest
Birds: Nature’s Magnificent Flying Machines by Caroline Arnold; illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne
Hovering, gliding, diving — how do birds do it? This book looks at how feathers, body structure, and wings vary from bird to bird. Readers will learn the mechanics of bird flight from takeoff to landing and discover how wing types meet the survival needs of each species.
A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds by Scott Weidensaul
An exhilarating exploration of the science and wonder of global bird migration. In the past two decades, our understanding of bird migration-the navigational and physiological feats that enable birds to cross immense oceans or fly above the highest mountains, to go weeks without sleep, or remain in unbroken flight for months at a stretch-has exploded. Weidensaul shares these and other revelations to convey both the wonder of bird migration and its global sweep, taking the reader from the shores and mudflats of the Yellow Sea in China.
Saving Migratory Birds by Ben Nussbaum
Learn how ornithologists are using modern technology to help migratory birds. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this informational text builds reading skills while engaging students’ curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples.
The National Geographic Guide to Birding in North America on Kanopy
Birding offers direct contact with one of our primary treasures of wildlife. Learn core elements of birding and methods for observing birds in the field. You’ll also take a panoramic look at the bird species of North America, and visit 23 of the top North American birding sites. Check out Episode 11 of this series to learn specifically about bird migration!
Audubon Magazine on Flipster
The official magazine of the National Audubon Society. Audubon magazine features brilliant high-quality pictures and covers news of the natural world, helping readers appreciate, understand, and protect the environment with a particular focus on birds, other wildlife and their habitats.