Bird Watching with the State Conservation Department or

Audubon Society______________________________

Winter months are a slower time for state conservation departments. During this time, they often have staff that will do off-site lectures on conservation-related topics (for free). The conservation department may have many different topics that could be used, but bird watching is close to many seniors’ hearts. Bird watching is something most seniors can do, no matter what their physical condition, which will make this an age-appropriate, educational evening.

Contact your local state conservation office to see what programs are available in your area. Most nature centers have programs/speakers that they will take off-site for groups, as well. The state chapter of the Audubon Society would be another source for speakers. National Audubon Society: www.audubon.org

Pre-dinner Conversation Starter:

Place copies of “Who Is a Bird Brain?” on tables for people arriving to play (see following pages 5-6). Remember to place a pencil at each place setting beforehand.

Decorations:

If the budget permits, each table can be decorated with birdfeeders placed as centerpieces that will be given away at the end of the night. Numbers can be given out to participants upon arrival for later birdfeeder drawings. Ticket rolls can be purchased that have duplicate numbers.

Another idea would be to decorate the center of the tables with Spanish moss (available at craft stores), and hard-boiled eggs in the shell that have been dyed blue, orange, and yellow. The eggs can be placed in the center for fun, or simply put candy chocolate eggs or some type of individually wrapped chocolates in the little nests. Be sure to have candles on the tables as it adds atmosphere and warmth.

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Quote for the Month/Event:

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” Henry Ford

Joke/Story:

1. Each evening, Bill, an avid bird lover, trying to communicate with his feathered friends, stood in his backyard hooting like an owl, and one night an owl called back to him. This continued for over a year, the man and his winged friend hooting back and forth. He was so inspired; he even kept a log of the “conversations.” Just as he thought he was on the verge of a breakthrough in interspecies communication, his wife had a chat with her next door neighbor. “My husband spends his nights calling out to owls,” she said. That’s odd,” the neighbor replied. “So does my husband.” Then it dawned on them.

2. Two robins were sitting in a tree talking. “I’m famished,” said the first one. “Me, too,” said the second. “Let’s fly down and see if we can find some lunch around.” They flew down to the ground and found a nice piece of plowed land with lots of fresh worms. They ate, and ate, and ate ‘till they could eat no more. “I’m so full, I don’t think I can fly up to the tree,” said the first. “Me either,” the second bird said. Let’s just lie here in the warm sun and enjoy the day,” said the first one. No sooner had they had fallen asleep when a big fat tomcat snuck up and gobbled them up. As the cat sat soaking in the sun and washing his face after his meal, he thought, “I just love Baskin' Robins.”

Game/Activity:

1. Play “What Is That Bird?” by tables or individuals. Give prizes out to the table/individual(s) that gets the most correct in five minutes (see following pages 7-8).

2. “Two Truths and a Lie:” Go around each table one at a time and have each person tell two truths and one lie about themselves and then let the group guess which is the lie. Then the play goes to the next person. This can be played as a group or by tables. This is a very fun way for the participants to get to know each other better.

Video/YouTube Clip:

Play a YouTube clip on bird sound therapy. These videos consist of bird chirping sounds and most clips have a picture that can be displayed on an overhead if needed.

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Reading/Joke:

1. It is amazing how many sayings we get from birds. See how many of these traditional sayings you can finish:If you like to stay up late you are a “night ______.” (owl)If one is married to a nagging wife – the husband is “hen ____________. (pecked)“Who ruffled her _________?” (feathers)People who go south for the winter are “snow ______.” (birds)Some people are “as crazy as a _______.” (loon)“What is good for the goose is good for the _________.” (gander)“Birds of a feather flock __________.” (together)Some people are “as silly as a _________.” (goose)If you can’t write well, your handwriting is said to look like “Chicken ________” (scratch)When someone has a lack of bravery, he “is ______________” (chicken)When the kids are gone you are “empty __________” (nesters)Have a “bird’s eye _____” (view)As “the _____ flies” (crow)An old grumpy man is sometimes called an “old _____________” (buzzard)To “eat like a _____” (bird)“Happy as a ______” (lark)If someone is quite sassy or showy: they are a “cat______.” (bird)Some people are said to be “as dumb as a ________.” (dodo)To be free is “to soar as an __________. (eagle)When you are embarrassed, you “eat _____.” (crow)“The early bird gets the _______.” (worm)Something might be as “light as a __________.” (feather)Sometimes a mean person might call someone an “ugly __________.” (duckling)Someone tells you something and you say “A little _______ told me.” (bird)Saving money is “feathering your ________.” (nest)To mentor is to take someone “under your ________.” (wing)“A bird in the hand is worth two in the _________,” (bush)It might be said of an older lady, “She is no spring _____________.” (chicken)If you are in trouble, “your ___________ is cooked.” (goose)

2. “Remember: Senior Citizens Are Valuable” We are more valuable than any of the younger generations: We have silver in our hair.

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We have gold in our teeth. We have stones in our kidneys. We have lead in our feet and… We are loaded with natural gas.

Scripture for the Month: (Can put in newsletter to encourage memorization)

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care” (Matthew 10:29).

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Who Is a Bird Brain?

1. Not one of these falls to the ground without the Lord’s knowledge.___ A. Falcon

2. Known for worm pulling! ___ B. Eagle

3. The fastest flying bird, diving at speeds of 200 miles an hour. ___ C. Hoopoe

4. Woody the ___________________. ___ D. Toucan

5. ___________ Sam. ___ E. Nightingale

6. Named by colonists for the red crest, reminiscent of a Catholic mitre. ___ F. Flamingo

7. Symbol of freedom. ___ G. Hawk

8. Known for its excellent eyesight. ___ H. Cardinal

9. Their wings flap at the speed of 12 to 80 times per second. ___ I. Magpie

10. Has the habit of wedging large food items in a crevice then J. Robinhacking at it with their strong bills. ___

11. Live in tunnels mostly in banks along water sources. ___ K. Ostrich

12. A U.S. helicopter was named after this bird. ___ L. Kingfisher

13. A black and white relative of the crow. ___ M. Hummingbird

14. The bird warning of Romeo and Juliet’s last night together. ___ N. Osprey

15. Known for its crown feathers and distinctive black stripes. ___ O. Nuthatch

16. Subject of tacky yard “art.” ___ P. Sparrow

17. God says in Lamentations that his people have become heartless Q. Woodpeckerlike ______________s in the desert (Lam. 4:3). ___

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Who is a Bird Brain?: Answers

1. P. Sparrow

2. J. Robin

3. A. Falcon

4. Q. Woodpecker

5. D. Toucan (the carton mascot for Froot Loops cereal.)

6. H. Cardinal

7. B. Eagle

8. G. Hawk

9. M. Hummingbird

10. O. Nuthatch

11. L. Kingfisher

12. N. “Osprey”

13. I. Magpie

14. E. Nightingale

15. C. Hoopoe

16. F. Flamingo

17. K. Ostrich

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What Is That Bird?Word Scramble

1. kahw ____________________________

2. arprswo ____________________________

3. reedokopcw ____________________________

4. ofmaingl ____________________________

5. rsntalig ____________________________

6. wrco ____________________________

7. ulrdbebi ____________________________

8. hicfn ____________________________

9. wwlaslo ____________________________

10. obbthiew ____________________________

11. rclainad ____________________________

12. kcniceh ____________________________

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What Is That Bird?: Answers

1. hawk

2. sparrow

3. woodpecker

4. flamingo

5. starling

6. crow

7. bluebird

8. finch

9. swallow

10. bobwhite

11. cardinal

12. chicken

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ISBN 978-0-9964347-0-6

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © by Lisa C. Deutsch 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced (with the exception of the handouts), stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without the prior permission of the copyright holder, except as provided by USA copyright law.

Cover design by Posy Creative: www.posycreative.com

Illustrations provided by Open Clip Art: www.openclipart.org

Scripture quotations are taken from:

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

This is a compilation of ideas, stories, jokes, and activities collected from numerous sources over many years. Any use of original material that is unauthorized is unintentional. Unless otherwise attributed, the origin and authorship of jokes, stories, and poems is unknown and assumed to be in the public domain. Credit is given to as many original sources as are known.

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