Ideas

Selected ‘schools’ as the Idea Type in the sidebar. ALSO, typed ‘schools’ in Idea Types’ field in the Edit Page.

Click below to see all our great ideas.


Explore Sounds

  • Organize a learning activity that supports a better understanding of sound (learn more here).
  • Check out the Urban Bird Sounds Project. This project led by students from Codman Academy Charter Public School (Boston, MA) is a model example of how to integrate technology with nature. It inspires youth and adults alike. Youth researched urban birds and created podcasts focused on the songs and calls of city birds with support from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds and the Environmental Leadership Program. Podcasts and CDs by youth are available for free, and if you’re interested in pursuing this type of project yourself, check out their teaching materials.
  • Learn sounds of birds by visiting our focal species bird guide and listening to the sound of each of the birds. Go outside and listen to the sounds of the outdoors. Do you hear birds?
  • Student learning about birds in classroom
    (Photo © Courtesy of Brentwood Science Magnet)
  • Record bird sounds on your cell phone.
  • Check out mnemonics for bird sounds here.
  • Check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Quiz to learn more about bird sounds and how to identify birds.
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Reaching out to Families

Mourning Doves in a nest on a tree
Getting families outdoors and connected with their nature is key to global conservation. We’d like to help you reach families in a meaningful way.

We can provide Celebrate Urban Birds kits for you to distribute to families. This wonderful kit includes identification posters, lots of information on creating habitat for wildlife locally, native sunflower seeds, and simple data sheets for even the most beginning birders to collect data that will help scientists learn more about the value of green spaces.

We can provide ideas for you to hold a Celebrate Urban Birds event of any size in your community.