Birds of a feather

These birds enjoy people-watching along the lake in Fountain Hills

The bird jokes started around our house after Lizabeth heard that a Phoenix high school is performing both “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Bye Bye Birdie” this season. It’s looking now like birds will have the last laugh.

A Curve-Bill Thrasher crashed Jennifer’s room recently, after going adventuring inside our fireplace flue. Though it wasn’t all that swift, it managed to outsmart me for a time. Yet I stood ready when it re-emerged, eager to work my best “catch and release” magic.

The cat knew that something was afoot, and the thrasher enjoyed a lovely back and forth with our parakeet. Our bunny, on the other hand, was oblivious. Now that the bird is back to enjoying our garden, I’m feeling inspired to share offerings with an aviary angle.

I’m glad this baby didn’t crash my daughter’s room

Turns out The Arboretum at Flagstaff is currently presenting something called “Science of Flight,” featuring Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center educators showing birds unlikely to find their way to your bedroom. Think Great Horned Owl, Turkey Vulture, Peregrine Falcon and American Kestrel Falcon. I’m told the birds even pose for photo opps, but you might have more fun taking along a sketchpad.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior is currently exhibiting the work of Scottsdale artist Paul Landau. “Macros to Cosmos” features Landau photographs of hummingbirds, arthropods and reptiles. The arboretum notes that more than 250 bird species have been spotted there, adding that the most commonly-seen birds include Gambel’s Quail, Canyon Wren, Black Throated Sparrows and my little Curve-Bill Thrasher friends.

Make sure that buzz is the sound of hummingbird wings

Naturally Audubon Arizona has birds on the brain too. Their next gathering of “professionals who care about natural spaces” is Sept. 20. It’s a little something dubbed “Birds ‘N Beer” that’s focused this time around on hummingbirds. Come Sept. 23, folks ages 10 & up can enjoy an evening of storytelling featuring tales about birds of the Sonoran Desert. Weird that no one’s invited me to rock my Curve-Bill Thrasher vibe.

Finally, a little something from National Geographic Live, which presents photographer Tim Laman and ornithologist Ed Scholes at the Mesa Arts Center Feb. 6, 2013. They’re the authors of a soon-to-be-published book titled “Birds of Paradise Revisited” and promise to share facts and fun images for 39 species while they’re here.

— Lynn

Note: The fine folks at Liberty Wildlife offer online tips for handling wildlife encounters, and can help with some wildlife rescues. They also provide animal education programs for schools and youth in community settings. Click here to learn more.

Coming up: Film firsts

Art meets Audubon

It's the perfect day to try a bit of bird-related art in honor of John James Audubon

John James Audubon, a naturalist and artist known best for his work with birds, was born April 26, 1785.

Hence today’s Google doodle with the beautiful bird theme.

If you’re feeling inspired to honor Audubon’s contributions to the worlds of art and science, consider making a bit of bird art with your children this week.

A few ideas…

• Build a birdhouse — from scratch or using a kit.
• Paint a bird at your local pottery painting joint.
• Write poems about some of your favorite birds.
• Take a walk to look for birds in your neighborhood.
• Cut bird pictures out of old magazines, then use them to create a collage on canvas or poster board.
• Use stencils to create whimsical bird designs along a wall in your child’s bedroom.
• Plant a bird friendly plant in your garden.
• Draw birds you see on exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo.
• Look for birds in art exhibited at the Phoenix Art Museum or Heard Museum.
• Take a sketchpad and pens/pencils along to draw birds you see at the Desert Botanical Garden or Rio Solado Audubon Society.
• Make bird designs by tracing your child’s spread out palm (a favorite with kids at Thanksgiving time).
• Sew simple birds using felt and embroidery floss, then use them to create a hanging mobile.
• Fold paper to make origami birds.
• Use bird puppets or plush (like those from the Audubon Society or Folkmanis Puppets) to create puppet shows full of birds.
• Read books about birds, then write your own bird stories.
• Draw birds that start with thumbprints made using colorful ink pads.
• Take photos of birds in your neighborhood or natural settings.
• Observe different birds, then make up dances that mirror their movements.

If you’ve got an idea for a bird-related craft or activity, please comment below to let our readers know. Or send photos of some of your family’s bird-related artwork so I can add them to this post for others to enjoy.

— Lynn

Note: Click here to learn more about the Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix — which offers summer camps for children, as well as other programs for children and adults. Learn more about John James Audubon from PBS and the National Gallery of Art — and the National Audubon Society.

Coming up: Memphis meets movie theater

Update: The Arboretum at Flagstaff will hold “Saturday Morning Birdwalks” led by bird experts from local chapters of the Audubon Society during May, June and July. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Learn more at www.thearb.org.