I was just looking through some old work and came across my bird song ditties … a project that is at least six years old. I created these for kids and three are featured below. I have another seven poems more-or-less finished and they are also included.
My plan is to create engaging animations for each, where the words light up as I speak and the images change as well. Thus, the ditties would help kids learn to read as well as teach them bird songs (click here to view an old attempt at an animation). Well … whatya think?
Correction: Someone pointed out that the nuthatch’s beak is actually quite substantial, so I’ve changed the first verse to read:
I’m a stubby little bird
my tail as short as my beak …
Some other completed poems:
Blue Jay
Jay-jay, jay-jay, I do exclaim!
And that is how I got my name.
But other sounds delight me more …
rattles, squeaks, and toots galore!
I’m the Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
I wear a brightly colored gown.
My song’s a whistled treat.
I SHOUT with color and with sound …
merrily, wheet-wheet-wheet!
I’m the Northern Cardinal
Bobolink
My feathery coat is black and white,
my call a simple pink!
My song is from another world …
gur-bubble-lee-spinkle-lee-spink!
I’m the Bobolink
Northern Flicker
I’m an ant-licker, and when I bicker,
I go wicker-wicker-wicker!
But when you see me in a tree …
I laugh out loud: hee-hee-hee-hee
I’m the Northern Flicker
Mallard Duck
On ponds and lakes you watch me swim,
fly up and around and back again.
In groups I chatter, cackle and quack,
my laughable voice a part of the pack.
I’m the Mallard Duck
American Goldfinch
A chippery chattery song I sing …
my call a bright soo-wee!
I also whistle on the wing …
A cheery per-teety-tee-tee!
I’m the American Goldfinch
Killdeer
With rings around my neck and breast,
I sputter and squeak, for all to hear …
Then fly so high above my nest,
and cry my name kill-deer, kill-deer.
I’m the Killdeer
_________________
NOTE: All poems © Lang Elliott, Music of Nature
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!”. . . .won’t you be my neighbor 🙂 Lang, you could be the next Mr. Rogers. I just love your idea & I’m looking forward to buying a DVD for children & all adults alike.
I have seven grandchildren who would love to learn more about birds & their songs. “Let’s all sing like the birdies sing. . .tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet”
I read the poems to Elizabeth (aka Killdeer) to see if she could guess the birds: she only missed the Goldfinch! I love this idea! You really should make it I to a children’s sound book.
And how is the little killdeer these days?
What a wonderful way for children to learn to “bird by ear” the ditties are great. I so hope you are able to publish these they really are marvelous.
These are great for kids, Lang. Learning early is the best thing. My interest in birds was gifted to me from my grandmother as a small child. I remember her telling me about the white-throated sparrow singing, “Ol’ Sam Peabody-Peabody-Peabody!” I think of her every time I hear one.
I always think the nuthatch is laughing, “ha-ha! ha-ha!” It makes me smile when I hear it. 🙂
I also smile when I hear a nuthatch “laughing”!
Oh my gosh Lang, this is wonderful. The combination of bird images their songs and your poems can be the spark that ignites not only children, but their parents to connect with nature on their own doorstep or backyard, and in parks and nature trails. The small rhyme poems you write are great for children to grasp easily enough to remember and recite. You can even include frogs and crickets, and such, oh my, how fun, bringing children and nature together, and often that process starts in early childhood that can lead to a lifelong passion and appreciation for nature.… Read more »
Connie: Glad to hear you like my ditties. Now I just have to re-boot my non-profit website and then figure out how to fund the creation and publication of a bunch of these.
Oh my goodness, I LOVED it! I’m going to go outside right now and try to hear a robin or a chickadee! And I’m not a kid! LOL
Ah … sounds like a great idea … chicka-dee-dee-dee!
If you need funds-why not a Kickstarter-or go fund me page?.If you need a voice I’m sure there would be folks who would volunteer.-I would; but live in CT.
I just looked up Bobolink-I thought they had yellow-I wish you could fit that in the verse…
When I get my act together with my non-profit, I fully intend to crowd-fund to obtain support for this kind of project. I have a lot of educational project I’d like to undertake … stuff that will go on the internet for free … but I’ll need funding for sure. Bobolink males do have a tad of yellow on their head, although that color is often hard to see. The poems, of course, are focused on sound and the brief rhymes can only contain a set number of words (not to mention having to find rhyming words). So I’m constantly… Read more »
I enjoyed these so very much. Please continue and post the photo and songs for the rest of your poems. They were delightful. And besides that, it was a great connection between Who is singing What in our backyards. Thanks so much for your work.
I Love this, Lang! Great idea and great combo.
Excellent bird songs! My grandson, almost 4, loves the songs and poems! My kitty also loves them. She comes right over and is wondering where the birds are!
Bird Song Ditties for Kiddies and Kitties!
These are great!! Love it! It is helpful in learning who I’m listening to.
My grandson,Jace(age 6), and I love these birds and their songs, esp.out here in AZ. I miss the robin so much. It was our Dad’s favorite bird.
Thanks so much and it’s good to hear that you are doing better, re: Bob.
This is delightful! I think it would be wonderful to continue this project when it feels right.
I do intend to continue with the project, once I reboot my non-profit effort.
Wonderful collection Lang. Having grandchildren and volunteering with youngsters in the field, I am always looking for creative ways to remember things seen and heard in nature. Thank you for sharing.
Those poems are delightful, especially with the added bird songs. It will help even an old birder remember the sounds. It would be wonderful to have this available on your Web store too. I do so enjoy your Web posts/newsletter.
Ingenious and fun! : )
Those are so fun. Thanks for sharing.
Fabulous idea. This really helps me with bird voice recognition! Kids would love it. And then you could play back the songs for a recognition game! As well, bird photos with sound, a bingo sort of game. And on and on. What a worthy thing to do- to widen the appreciation of these wonderful birds.
Holly: I actually devised a bird song ID game, but it was done in the old “Flash” format, so doesn’t work on mobile. I may rekindle that project at some point, once I re-boot my Miracle of Nature non-profit effort (which is on hold now as I recover from a throat cancer episode).
the heck with kids! adults love this stuff too!
olive sided flycather: free beer free beer!
🙂
karen
I agree Karen. I actually get quite a kick out of writing the poems. It’s just plain fun.
Super!! Just we need to help kids learn about birds. Thanks, Lang. you are the greatest!
Wonderful idea on children learning sounds of birds. I love listening to birds and watching them but have never studied them and if I can’t see the bird I can’t determine what kind is making the songs I hear. Maybe other adults can also benefit from your creative idea.