True story: A woman recently approached my son while we were out birding and said, “I love seeing you enjoying a hobby that’s not on a screen!” She had no idea what I do for a living. 😆
In a world where “teen boy” often equals “gamer,” I believe our boys (and all our kids!) have SO MUCH MORE TO OFFER and to learn. Games can be fun occasionally, but let’s broaden their horizons.
But how? By doing our best to expose our kids to real life and watching the things and activities they gravitate toward. Nurture those things! And create a family culture where screens aren’t the default.
One day, my son started noticing birds in our backyard, and now? He’s a full-fledged birding enthusiast! Who knew chasing feathered friends could be so addictive (and screen-free)?
Birding has become our go-to one-on-one time with our 13-year-old son and it’s really been such a gift (even though early mornings are not my thing! 😴).
After I shared some of our birding adventures on Instagram, many of you wanted to learn more.
As a newbie-birder, here are my top tips:
🌄 Early bird gets the… well, birds! Morning outings are best.
🔭 Gear up: binoculars, spotting scope, and camera.
📚 Use field guides (I’ll share our favorites!)
📲 Helpful apps (on a parent’s phone)
Plus, the health benefits are amazing:
🚶♂️ Physical: Keeps you moving!
🧠 Mental:
* Bird songs improve mood (it’s science!)
* Nature = better mental health
* Less stress for birding college students
Remember, exploring hobbies like birding isn’t just fun – it’s investing in real-life experiences beyond screens.
Now, here are some of our favorite resources to get you started…
Favorite Birding Books
- The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd Edition (Sibley Guides)
- Sibley Birds West: Field Guide to Birds of Western North America
- The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America: Second Edition
- Sibley’s Birding Basics: How to Identify Birds, Using the Clues in Feathers, Habitats, Behaviors, and Sounds
- What It’s Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and Why
- Birds of the Pacific Northwest (A Timber Press Field Guide)
- Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
Field Diaries
- The Sibley Birder’s Life List and Field Diary
- Rite in the Rain All Weather Spiral Notebook, Birders Journal
- Bird Watching Field Journal: Log, Sketchbook, and Life List
Tools We Use
- Binoculars (We have these Nikon binoculars. Great mix of budget and quality for older kids!)
- Spotting Scope (We have the C70 Mini Mak)
- Crossbody Sling Backpack (for carrying small bird guides, water bottle, etc) while birding
- Rubber Boots (These are exact pair my son has and loves!)
Favorite Apps (for parent’s phone) & Websites
- Merlin (sound identification app from Cornell)
- eBird app
- eBird website
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Audubon Society (how to identify birds)
Research
- Everyday encounters with birdlife are associated with time-lasting improvements in mental wellbeing. Scientific Reports, 2022
- Birdwatching linked to increased psychological well-being on college campuses: A pilot-scale experimental study. ScienceDirect, 2024
- The Surprising Health Benefits of Bird-Watching. New York Times, 2022
- Birdwatching Can Improve Mental Health And Reduce Distress In Students. Forbes, 2024
- Some bird sounds are associated with perceptions of restoration from stress and cognitive fatigue.
Fun Bird Things Our Family Loves
- The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
- Wingspan game (We paid $47 for this game, so shop around for the best price. Hopefully the price goes down on Amazon! It’s a popular game!)
- Bird Brains – Trivia Card Game for Bird Lovers
- Hummingbird Feeder
- Bird Feeder (and solar garden lantern in one!)
*As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
