Which birds are on the wading list?

Birdy lessons and activities for the whole family. | Trouble viewing this e-mail? Try our [web version](. [National Audubon Society]( Nestling Edition | September 2022 [An illustration of a wading bird.]( [Don’t Keep Us Wading, Dive In!]( For birds that find their food in water but can’t swim, several physical traits come in handy: long legs for keeping feathers dry when hunting in shallow water; a long neck and beak for reaching out to grab (or stab) a critter; and spread-out toes on big feet for keeping balance and walking in mud without getting stuck. Birds with these characteristics are called wading birds. They include herons, egrets, cranes, storks, ibises, and spoonbills. Learn more about these incredible birds in this month’s lesson: [The World of Wading Birds]( | [Disponible en español]( [Roseate Spoonbill.]( [Are You As Tall As a Wading Bird?]( Wading birds have long legs and necks, which makes some of them very tall. In this activity, put a birdy twist on the family tradition of measuring and marking kids’ heights on a wall or door frame. [See how you measure up]( | [Disponible en español]( Roseate Spoonbill. [Greater Flamingo.]( [What’s Up With This Flamingo?]( We're no strangers to photos of ducks and other waterfowl turned upside down to dabble along river, lake, and ocean bottoms, but a flamingo? Fortunately, we happen to know a few bird experts. Read on for more on this bird and behavior from Audubon Field Editor Kenn Kaufman. [Find out]( Greater Flamingo. [Sandhill Cranes.]( [Catch a Glimpse of North America’s “Greatest Migration”]( Every spring, around one million Sandhill Cranes converge in the Platte River Valley of central Nebraska before continuing north to their breeding grounds. In anticipation of the Bird Migration Explorer next week, watch the sweeping views of flocks of wading birds lifting off during this spectacular migratory event. [See it to believe it]( Sandhill Cranes. [Great Blue Heron.]( [A Pop Quiz on Wading Birds]( Now that you’re more familiar with our wading friends, test your knowledge to prove you can wade with the best of them. [Take the quiz]( Great Blue Heron. [The 2023 Kids Birding activity calendar.]( [Introducing: 2023 Kids Birding Activity Calendar]( The 2023 Audubon calendars are now available for pre-order, including our first-ever Kids Birding activity calendar! Each month features gorgeous photographs of birds in their natural habitats, fascinating facts about the world’s bird species, and tips for how kids can help the birds in their local environment. Plus games, projects, and a whole flock of stickers! [Explore 2023 calendars]( The 2023 Kids Birding activity calendar. Illustration: Alex Tomlinson/Audubon. Photos from top: Tammy Pick/Audubon Photography Awards; naturewatch/Shutterstock; Luke Franke/Audubon; Pierre Cenerelli/Audubon Photography Awards [Audubon Near You]( CONNECT WITH US [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [DONATE]( [ADVOCATE]( [GET TEXT UPDATES]( National Audubon Society 225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014 USA [(844) 428-3826](#) | [audubon.org]( © 2022 National Audubon Society, Inc. [Update your email address or unsubscribe](