A great horned owl. (Photo: Jim White)

Summertime brings all sorts of wildlife—especially birds—to backyards and nearby parks. Birding, or watching birds, doesn't require any special equipment (though you might find binoculars to be helpful). So slap on some suntan lotion and invite a friend or parent to join you on a birding expedition! To make your adventure even more scientific, take a sketchbook and pencil with you to draw the birds you see.

Your Very Own Bird Guide
What birds live in your area? What do they look like? For an online bird guide chock full of info—and complete with recordings of bird calls—visit The Great Backyard Bird Count.

Attract Birds to Your Backyard!
If you don't feel like strolling through a park to find birds, why not build a birdfeeder in your yard? It's easy! Just roll a pinecone in peanut butter and birdseed. Tie a piece of yarn to the pinecone, and have a parent or guardian hang your feeder from a tree. Make sure the pinecone feeder is out of reach from hungry predators—like cats.

Spotlight on Owls The next Harry Potter book is due on store shelves this summer! Get up to speed on your owl know-how at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.