More than 500 bird species call Washington home. As crucial components of healthy ecosystems, birds serve as pollinators, predators, scavengers, seed dispersers, and engineers in a variety of habitats. Learn more about Washington bird species from our partners at the National Audubon Society.
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Birds & glass collisions
Hundreds of millions of birds die each year in the United States from flying into glass and windows. Birds often hit windows because they see reflections of clouds, sky, or plants in the glass. Sometimes, birds can see indoor plants and fly into the window by accident. At nighttime, birds can be attracted to lights on buildings and accidentally fly into a glass window.
Watch this 7-minute video from American Bird Conservancy to learn more about bird collisions and what cities are doing to help.
Activity: Make your own bird-friendly window decals
Walk around your home and identify which windows are most dangerous for flying birds. Think about the windows that are closest to where you see birds during the day.
Gather your materials
- Puffy fabric paint
- Recycled plastic or large plastic storage bag
- Decal printouts (Print this PDF)
Backyard birding
Bird watching can be done from your backyard or window, and offers the opportunity to practice patience as well as observation and listening skills. Kids are natural explorers, so birding is a perfect activity to do year round.
Watch the video below to learn the basics of birding in the Pacific Northwest from Matt Curtis, a habitat biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Activity: Practice birding by ear
Sound is often the best way to know if a bird is nearby, and can also help you identify a bird species without ever seeing it. Be more mindful when you go outside and listen for birds. Do you hear repetitive songs or calls? Do you notice more than one type of bird?
Learning to identify a bird by its sound can seem challenging, especially when there are several birds singing at once. To speed up your learning process, really think about what you're hearing. Describe the sound to yourself or write it down. Familiarize yourself with some common backyard bird songs below. Pick a few species that you have seen in your neighborhood and listen to them repeatedly. Now when you go outside, try to identify a bird by its sound before you see it.
Want even more sounds? Download the National Audubon Society's Bird Guide App or visit their online bird guide to hear hundreds of bird calls and songs.
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American crow |
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American goldfinch |
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American robin |
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Anna's Hummingbird |
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Barn swallow |
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Bewick's Wren |
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Black-billed magpie |
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Black-capped chickadee |
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Dark-eyed junco |
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Great blue heron |
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House finch |
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Belted kingfisher |
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Mourning dove |
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Northern flicker |
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Spotted towhee |
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Steller's Jay |
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Varied thrush |
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Using smartphones for science
Community scientists – like you – can help provide important information about wildlife populations and trends. With easy-to-use apps like eBird and iNaturalist, it’s more fun than ever to contribute to community science.
Watch this 3-minute video from eBird to learn about community science and how you can get involved.