This page includes links to resources to go along with my Waterfowl & Waterbirds Unit! Find the Waterbirds & Waterfowl unit and other nature-based learning materials in my Shop!
A note on respecting wildlife: As you complete this unit, I hope you are able to get outside and observe waterfowl in their natural habitat. As you do so, please remember that feeding ducks, geese, and other waterbirds can make them ill, pollute their habitat, and alter these wild animals’ natural behaviors. Please, do not feed waterbirds.
1.) Free waterbird activities and lesson plans – for educators (external links)
Origami Waterbirds
- The National Crane Foundation‘s instructions for folding Origami Cranes – with printable directions and a video!
- Fold an Origami Swan – with this video from Origami Plus – Easy Origami Tutorials on YouTube!
- How to Fold an Origami Duck – with this easy tutorial from WikiHow
- Up for a challenge? This advanced Origami Goose by origami artist Jo Nakashima is incredible!
Waterbird Art
- Drawing Tutorial 101 teaches you to draw a great blue heron and dozens of other birds!
- The John Muir Laws website has tons of info on drawing birds
Bird Stories and Books
- Ten Birdy Children’s Books to Read With Your Fledglings, a August 2019 blog post on Audubon by T. Santora
- Check out GoodReads list of books for bird lovers – including several books featuring geese and ducks!
- This July 2022 blog post on Teaching Expertise by C. Nguyen has a list of 23 Kid-Friendly Bird Books
Duck Calling
- Science Bob teaches you to Make a Simple Duck Call with a straw and ways to use it for a science experiment!
- This 2009 blog post also teaches you to Make duck or fog horn sounds with a straw, from Wonder How To, written by R. Mansur
Bird Beaks Labs
A bird beaks lab guide and worksheets are included in the Waterfowl and Waterbirds Unit. However, here are some other variations on a bird beak lab; including free lesson plans and activity guides.
- Northern Arizona University’s Bird Beaks Lab
- Audubon for Kids: What’s that Beak For?
- Northeastern University’s Natural Selection – bird beak lab
Go Bird Watching
- Identify birds by their calls with the Merlin free app
- The National Park Service‘s article on Birding For Beginners with lots of helpful advice to get you started on birding!
- Check out the American Birding Association to find species checklists, bird ID help, local birding clubs, and young birder programs!
Other Bird Activities and Lessons
- There is a wealth of information and activities about birds of all types on the Audubon for Kids website
- Crane Activity Packets for all grade levels from the International Crane Foundation! (pre-K – grade 12)
- Activities and Coloring from Green Wing by Ducks Unlimited
- Tons of beautiful coloring pages and worksheets from the Montana Waterfowl Foundation
2.) Related freebies from Wild Earth Lab
3.) References (external links)
These include reference websites and books I used to fact check the information within the Waterfowl and Waterbirds Unit and other helpful online resources. Use the links below to enjoy the wealth of information these references have to offer!
General Bird Info Websites:
- The Audubon website’s search bar can help you find info on many different birds:
- The Cornell Lab’s All About Birds is another great website for info on birds
- USGS’s Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter has information to help identify North American birds
- Your local Department of Natural Resources website is a great place to learn about waterbirds in your area! Here is a list of DNR websites by state for the U.S.
Waterbird and Waterfowl-specific Webpages:
- The National Park Service‘s website for the Upper Delaware has a page on Loons, Grebes, Coots, and Cormorants and another page on Waterfowl
- Frequently Asked Questions About Cranes – from the International Crane Foundation
- K. Kaufman’s July 2021 post on Audubon covers the differences between egret, ibis, flamingo, heron, stork
- R. Habib’s October 2021 post on Avibirds covers the different types of waterfowl and how to tell them apart
- Madison Audubon’s 2020 post on waterfowl (and coots and grebes)
- Learn about current waterfowl research and science on the Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl Research webpage!
Beaks and Feet:
- BirdInformer.com’s September 2021 blog post about The Amazing Abilities Of Bird Beaks, with videos and examples!
- Learn about the Remarkable Adaptations of Birds to their Environment in this May 2018 blog post by S. Wynns for the National Park Service – Cabrillo
Canada Goose Info:
- Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources webpage on Canada geese behavior and biology
- Audubon’s Field Guide to North American Birds has an informational page on the Canada Goose
- The Cornell Lab’s All About Birds website has a page on the Canada Goose
- University of Wisconsin La Crosse’s informational website on the Canadian Goose
