If you think that little kids don’t remember or know what’s going on, you are wrong! One of my most vivid memories comes from when I was three years old. During a six week period of time, my mother, father, and I stayed in St. Stephens, SC while my father worked on a construction job. It was then that I discovered birds.
It began in late January. Mom packed some household equipment, clothes, as well as enough books and toys to keep a three year old busy. Everything was loaded into the two cars and we went to stay in a rented single-wide trailer.
The trailer was situated next to a small field that been planted with corn the previous summer but had since been harvested and plowed under. As the plow turned at the end of each row, it left behind kernels of corn which had fallen to the ground during the harvest. I’m sure the owners never had any idea how important their plowed field would be to a little kid.
My days were filled with Mom and I reading books, playing with homemade play dough, singing songs, and watching a tad of television in the afternoons. The first week went by and then it happened. The event that changed my whole experience at the trailer.
It snowed! Since we had come from a more southern part of Georgia, I had never gotten the opportunity to see snow. As with many southern snows, it began with rain, turned to sleet, then to snow, and back to rain again. Over night, the temperature dropped to well below freezing. The morning after the “snow”, foot-long icicles could be seen hanging from the eves of the barn, which stood across the street. Although the weather experience was special, what came with the cold icy weather was more important.
Birds, dozens of them! Redbirds (Cardinals) and a variety of other birds flocked to the field to forage for food. They found a virtual banquet in the plowed field, which I could see from the picture window in the livingroom. Of course, I had to stand on the sofa to see, which was an added treat since I was taught not to put my feet on the furniture.
To say the least, I was amazed at the birds. My mom, being a very resourceful woman, seized the opportunity to keep me busy. She talked to me about the birds and told me what they were doing in the field. Watching the birds became part of our daily ritual, so much so that Mom went to a local store and bought a bird identification book. I loved the pictures in the book! After watching the birds in the field for a while, I was able to tell the difference between the male and female Redbirds.
Over the following weeks, Mom and I completed several birding projects such as putting together our own birdseed mix, making play doughbird nests (complete with eggs), and drawing numerous crayon pictures of the birds. Our time at this splendid place was short lived as we soon moved back home. Little was I to know that my education about birds was just beginning.
When we were settled back in our home, the learning continued with the addition of a brand new bird feeder outside a window. Then came the recordings of bird calls, which at the time could be checked out of the library. By the time summer arrived, not only could I recognize the males and females from several different bird groups, but I could recognize their calls as well.
Thirty-five-plus years later, I still get a warm comfy feeling each time I’m reminded of the short period in February when my mom took the time to talk with me about birds. At the time, I’m sure she just saw it as spending quality time with me. She had done far more than that. Unknowingly, she had instilled a love of birds in her three year old that would last a lifetime.
Since Spring will be with us shortly, consider teaching your toddler or someone special the joys of backyard birding.
More Resources:
If you already have a fond memory of watching or feeding the birds, you might like this design to remind you of your experience. You can see this same design on other products in our shop by clicking on the link below.
I Feed Birds! -Infant/Toddler T-Shirt