Simple bird spotting for children with new website Nest Friends with bird spotter sheets
As families can spend more time outside from this week, a new website created by a designer from Kent is swooping in to help children make the most of their time in the great outdoors.
Nest Friends shows small children about the variety of birds in the UK, how to identify them and helps them keep track of what they've seen in the garden, whilst on a walk, during a picnic in the park or even just looking out the window at home.
It has been created by 35-year-old Rick Oliver from Kings Hill who, using his passion for illustrating, has turned every British bird into a bright bold character with simplified markings to help children learn how to spot them more easily.
The website will help children understand more about each species including what they like to eat and what time of year they are most likely to be seen as well as kitting kids out with a free downloadable bird spotter sheet to help children keep a record.
Rick, who is a CAD/ 3D designer, is drawing on knowledge he gained as a child from his dad who taught him all about the birds in the garden of his childhood home.
He said: “I created it as a way of keeping young children entertained during the lockdown measures that have been put in place.
“It offers parents some simple tools to help keep their little ones occupied as well as giving them free fun activities they can do together. The idea is to encourage children to explore and learn by going outside whether it be for a walk or in their gardens.
Each of Rick's Nest Friends characters has a name - connected to their species' scientific name.
He explained: “They are very tricky to remember so I thought they could be inspired by their scientific name - for example Mervin and Ula the blackbirds are inspired by the scientific name Turdus Merlua and Becca the Robin is taken from Erithacus Rubecula.
“My personal favourite is Hula the Bullfinch taken from Pyrrhula pyrrhula.”
Rick, who lives with wife Jo, says he is continually developing the website to introduce more characters and resources.
He added: “The website allows parents and carers to download and print off bird 'spotter sheets’ for their children. These teach them how to identify all the different birds they may see, what each bird eats and encourages them to keep track of how many they spot.
“There are also colouring in sheets they can print off and colour in, as well as a 'create your own' sheet which encourages them to use their imaginations and create their very own bird using whatever materials they choose. The site also includes a page where they can 'meet' all of the characters and learn all about them.
“I have also designed some wall charts that will be available soon so parents can put these up and keep the children spotting all year round and I have a few story ideas which I hope to turn into children's books too."
Families can learn more and find all the resources they need at www.nestfriends.co.uk
