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Watch a video of a Blue Whale -The largest animal on Earth!

Published: Friday, December 02, 2011

SO BIG! BLUE WHALE!

Dear Friends.
Check out this video of a kayaker's amazing encounter with a blue whale, the largest animal on Earth. It gives you a close-up look at just how big and magnificent these creatures are. I felt excited and tingly inside when I watched this. You can learn just how big a blue whale by listening to my song "So Big! Blue Whale!" on our CD IF I WERE A FISH and other Ocean Songs for Kids by Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders®. I wrote this song as a tribute to the world's largest animal. See if you can if you can find facts about a blue whale's lungs, heart and tongue in the song! (The lyrics to the song are below.)

If you are interested in whales of all sizes, check out "Migration", our music video for kids about gray whales. It has a catchy chorus and great photos of gray whales taken by our friend Guy Loucks. And if you like dolphins, a close relative of whales, you can watch our animal song video about dolphins and echolocation, called Clickety Clack, in a previous blog post. In this video you will find dolphin photos by NOAA and the lyrics of the song so that you can sing along. Clickety-Clack is the first song on my CD IF I WERE A FISH and other Ocean Songs for Kids by Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders®. I love seeing dolphins and whales off the coast of California where I live. Learning about these creatures inspires me to write more animal songs for kids. I'd love to hear about any whale or dolphin encounters you have had.

-Birdsong

LYRICS TO "SO BIG! BLUE WHALE!"

So Big! (So Big!) Blue Whale! (Blue Whale!)

It's the biggest whale in the sea.

So Big! Blue Whale! It's the biggest whale in the sea.

How big is a blue whale? It's bigger than you or me.

Is it bigger than an elephant? Yes, oh yes-siree.

It's bigger than a tyrannosaurus rex. It's the largest animal that's ever lived.

Longer than a jet from head to tail. Well that's a mighty, mighty big whale!

So Big! Blue Whale! It's the biggest whale in the sea.

How big is a blue whale? It's bigger than you or me.

Is it heavier than ninety-nine giraffes? Yes, oh yes-siree.

It's bigger than a tyrannosaurus Rex. It's the largest animal that's ever lived.

Longer than a jet from head to tail. Well that's a mighty, mighty big whale!

So Big! Blue Whale! It's the biggest whale in the sea.

It's the super duper most gigantic baleen whale by far, with a heart as big as a small engine car. And with the largest lungs of any animal alive, it can blow air fifteen feet high in the sky. And not only is it big,

But it's the loudest animal around, with a low, rumble-like-a jet kind of sound. And its tongue is so very enormously big, that fifty people

Could stand on it and dance the jig! That's SO�

So Big! Blue Whale! It's the biggest whale in the sea.

How big is a blue whale? It's bigger than you or me.

Is it bigger than a dinosaur? Yes, oh yes-siree.

It's bigger than a tyrannosaurus rex. It's the largest animal that's ever lived.

Longer than a jet from head to tail. Well that's a mighty, mighty big whale!

It's bigger than a tyrannosaurus rex. It's the largest animal that's ever lived.

Here's to you blue whale, oh yeah. Blue Whale you tip the scale!

So Big! (So Big!) Blue Whale! (Blue Whale!) So Big!

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Meet some Mexican and Alaskan Gray Wolves! More photos from California Wolf Center

Category: Animal Songs-Wolves

Published: Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Dear Friends,

     Meet some of the 29 Mexican and Alaskan Gray wolves at the California Wolf Center in Julian, CA. You can see the entire album of these eight Mexican and Alaskan Gray Wolves on California Wolf Center's Facebook page. The names of these wolves include: Inuk, Chaco, Kiana, Taku and Ketchikan.
     Wolves such as these inspired my song and kids music video, LEADERS OF THE PACK. This video has a slideshow of beautiful wolf photos, courtesy of All -About -Wolves. You can also find the lyrics to this animal song for kids below. Please read and sing along with me! Soon we will be recording this song for our next CD. Stay tuned!
   ~Birdsong

LEADERS OF THE PACK
by Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders

There is something so exciting about the sound of wolves howling

In the springtime, deep in the forest when the snow begins to thaw.

It's the time when baby wolves are born

And their mama feeds and keeps them warm,

And daddy runs to hunt for dinner.

These two parents work together

'Cause they love their pups and love each other.

CHORUS:

They're the leaders of the pack.

They howl and bark their pack howls back.

They have a way of knowing how to keep their family safe and growing.

They are strong. They are wild.

They guide their pack with a protective style.

They're alpha wolves and they're the leaders of the pack.

There is something so exciting about the sound of wolves howling

In the summertime, deep in the forest when the wolf pups leave their den.

And the members of the pack all work together

To care for the pups in all kinds of weather.

This is their time to learn and play

And mama and papa wolf show the way

Because they love their pups and love each other.

to CHORUS

Wolves have family values just like you and me.

They work hard to keep their children healthy, safe and free.

And when I hear wolves howling, I know deep in my heart

We must protect their habitats, and keep them safe from harm.

And daddy runs to hunt for dinner. These two parents work together.

In spring, summer, fall and winter.

to CHORUS

LEADERS OF THE PACK
written by Birdsong
(c) Little Ones Music 2009 ASCAP All Right reserved

Wolves are in great need of our protection. They need large undisturbed wild habitats in order to thrive. They also need protection from hunters, their most dangerous predator. Wolves once lived in 40 of the United States, but now only live in a few western states. To learn more about how to help protect this endangered animal, go to the Defenders of Wildlife, NRDC or California Wolf Center and Endangered Wolf Center websites.

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Silly Wolf Photo from California Wolf Center

Category: Animal Songs-Wolves

Published: Friday, July 29, 2011

Dear Friends,

Check out this "silly wolf photo" from the California Wolf Center in Julian, CA. You can see the entire album of these silly wolf photos on California Wolf Center's Facebook page. Wolves such as these inspired my song and music video, LEADERS OF THE PACK. This video has a slideshow of beautiful wolf photos, courtesy of All -About -Wolves. You can watch my kids music video LEADERS OF THE PACK on my December, 2009 blog post. You can also find the lyrics to this animal song for kids below. Please read and sing along with me! We will be in the music studio this autumn to record this song for our next CD.
Stay tuned! ~Birdsong

LEADERS OF THE PACK
by Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders

There is something so exciting about the sound of wolves howling

In the springtime, deep in the forest when the snow begins to thaw.

It's the time when baby wolves are born

And their mama feeds and keeps them warm,

And daddy runs to hunt for dinner.

These two parents work together

'Cause they love their pups and love each other.

There is something so exciting about the sound of wolves howling

In the summertime, deep in the forest when the wolf pups leave their den.

And the members of the pack all work together

To care for the pups in all kinds of weather.

This is their time to learn and play

And mama and papa wolf show the way

Because they love their pups and love each other.

to CHORUS

Wolves have family values just like you and me.

They work hard to keep their children healthy, safe and free.

And when I hear wolves howling, I know deep in my heart

We must protect their habitats, and keep them safe from harm.

And daddy runs to hunt for dinner. These two parents work together.

In spring, summer, fall and winter.

to CHORUS

LEADERS OF THE PACK
written by Birdsong
(c) Little Ones Music 2009 ASCAP All Right reserved

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Wolf Pups Video from California Wolf Center

Category: Animal Songs-Wolves

Published: Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Check out this video of wolf pups from the California Wolf Center in Julian, CA, uploaded in June, 2011. These pups were born this past Spring. Wolf families such as these inspired my song and music video, "LEADERS OF THE PACK." This video has a slideshow of beautiful wolf photos, courtesy of All -About -Wolves. You can watch my kids music video LEADERS OF THE PACK on my December, 2009 blog post. You can also find the lyrics to this animal song for kids below. Please read and sing along with me! We will be in the music studio this year to record this song for our upcoming CD. Stay tuned!

LEADERS OF THE PACK
by Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders

There is something so exciting about the sound of wolves howling

In the springtime, deep in the forest when the snow begins to thaw.

It's the time when baby wolves are born

And their mama feeds and keeps them warm,

And daddy runs to hunt for dinner.

These two parents work together

'Cause they love their pups and love each other.

There is something so exciting about the sound of wolves howling

In the summertime, deep in the forest when the wolf pups leave their den.

And the members of the pack all work together

To care for the pups in all kinds of weather.

This is their time to learn and play

And mama and papa wolf show the way

Because they love their pups and love each other.

to CHORUS

Wolves have family values just like you and me.

They work hard to keep their children healthy, safe and free.

And when I hear wolves howling, I know deep in my heart

We must protect their habitats, and keep them safe from harm.

And daddy runs to hunt for dinner. These two parents work together.

In spring, summer, fall and winter.

to CHORUS

LEADERS OF THE PACK
written by Birdsong
(c) Little Ones Music 2009 ASCAP All Right reserved

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Watch DOLPHIN DINNER - An animal video about dolphins by National Geographic

Category: Animal Song Videos

Published: Saturday, July 09, 2011

Dear Friends.
This is a fun National Geographic kids' video about dolphins. Here you will see a pod of dolphins using their sounds to locate large schools of anchovies. After locating the fish, they then use dolphin teamwork to catch the anchovies for dinner. Echolation and cooperation are the names of the game in this educational kids video. You can watch more National Geographic kids videos at National Geographic Kids Online.
You can also watch my animal song video about dolphins and echolocation, called Clickety Clack, in a previous blog post. In this video you will find dolphin photos by NOAA and the lyrics of the song so that you can sing along. Clickety-Clack is the first song on my CD IF I WERE A FISH and other Ocean Songs for Kids by Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders®. I love seeing dolphins off the coast of California where I live. I hope you enjoy these dolphin videos.

-Birdsong

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THE FLOWERS HAVE GONE WILD! - More fun facts about wildflowers and their pollinators!

Category: Plants | Habitats

Published: Thursday, June 30, 2011

Dear Friends,

Did you know that:

Most plants require the assistance of pollinators to produce seeds and fruit?
Pollinators include birds, beetles, bees, butterflies, wasps and flies, ants, bats and moths?
Pollinators visit flowers in search of food, mates, shelter and nest-building materials?
The sugar in a flower's nectar and the protiens, fats, vitamins and minerals from its pollen provide food and energy for pollinators?
This energy helps pollinators grow and provides power for their metamorphosis, flight and reproduction?
Most wildflowers are fertilized when pollinators visit the flower and then carry pollen from flower to flower?
A flower need to be fertilized in order to be produce seeds and fruit?
Without pollinators and fertilized flowers the world of nature (including people) would go hungry?
Therefore, the relationship between flowers and pollinators feeds the world?

These are some of the interesting facts I learned as I was writing my kids song about wildflowers, The Flowers have Gone Wild! You can learn more about wildflowers and their pollinators on a great website by the US Forest Service called "Celebrating Wildflowers". You can also hear the chorus to my new kids song in the video below. The video has photos of wildflowers taken this past spring in Laguna Beach, CA and Anza Borrego State Park, California. You can find the lyrics to The Flowers have Gone Wild! in my last blog entry.

The Flowers have Gone Wild! will be added to my growing collection of animal songs for kids by BIRDSONG and the ECO-WONDERS. You can listen to my other songs about plants and insects I Almost Kissed and Butterfly and Plant a Habitat.
If you like the ocean, you can also hear other animal songs about blue whales, humpback whales and gray whales on our CD IF I WERE A FISH and Other Ocean Songs for Kids. You can also watch some of our ocean animal song videos on this blog. They include CLICKETY-CLACK about dolphins, MIGRATION about gray whales and PINNIPED PARADE about sea lions, seals and walruses.

Enjoy!

-Birdsong

pollinating insects-- photos courtesy of USDA Forest and Wildlife Website

wildflower photos taken by Birdsong

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Listen to the chorus of THE FLOWERS HAVE GONE WILD!

Category: Plants | Habitats

Published: Thursday, June 16, 2011

Dear Friends,

In this video, you can listen to the chorus of my new song, The Flowers have Gone Wild!. I have changed some of the words in the verses since my last blog entry. The new words to the lyrics are at the very end of this letter. Here are some of the words I am using in my new song about wildflowers: wildflowers, bugs, pollinate, pollination, fertilized, pollen, germination, seeds, fruit, colors, blooming, flowers, Spring, bees, beetles, birds and sun. They are all connected to wildflowers in some way. See if you can find these words in the lyrics of the song below. Perhaps you know some other words that are part of the world of wildflowers.

pollinating insects-- photos courtesy of USDA Forest and Wildlife Website

I felt so much joy and excitement when I saw wildflowers blooming this Spring that I started writing this song called "The Flowers have Gone Wild!" While I was writing this song, I learned about the kinds of insects that pollinate wildflowers. They include bees, beetles, butterflies, wasps, ants and moths. What wildflowers and pollinating insects have you observed in your own backyards, parks and neighborhoods? CLICK HERE to tell me about them or to send photos. Below you can also see photos of some of the wildflowers included in this video. I took these photos in locations throughout southern California.

Enjoy!

-Birdsong

Here are the revised lyrics to:
The Flowers Have Gone Wild!

CHORUS

Spoken: "The flowers have gone wild!" (2x)
Sung: "The flowers have gone wild!"
The flowers have gone wild with colors bursting in the sun!
The flowers have gone wild, my child, they're blooming for everyone to see.
The birds are celebrating
And the bugs are pollinating!
'Cause the flowers have gone wild with colors bursting in the sun!

Verse1:
I like Spring, it's a really great thing
To see the wildflowers blooming all around.
Orange and white, red, yellow so bright!
And tiny purple and pink ones crawling on the ground.
I like how those flowers make me feel
So happy I just want to squeal: (to Chorus)

Verse2:
"I need you and you need me,"
said the flowering bush to the hungry buzzing bee.
"I have pollen for you to eat and when you move my pollen
from flower to flower you pollinate me."
Flower gives a bee a nutritious meal.
If I were a bee, I''d want to squeal: (Chorus)

Bridge:
A fertilized flower has the power
To produce seeds and fruit.
First pollination, the germination
Makes new plants for the next generation.
"If you pollinate me," said the flower to the beetle,
"Next spring we'll hear the whole world squeal:" (Chorus)

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More verses for THE FLOWERS HAVE GONE WILD! - A song-in-progress

Category: Plants | Habitats

Published: Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Dear Friends,

Here are some of the words I am using in my new song about wildflowers: wildflowers, bugs, pollinate, pollination, fertilization, pollen, nectar, petals, leaves, seeds, fruit, colors, blooming, Spring, bees, beetles, birds and butterflies. They are all connected to wildflowers in some way. See if you can find these words in the lyrics of the song below. Perhaps you know some other vocabulary words that are part of the world of wildflowers.

photos courtesy of Berlin Heck and A. Madara, found on the USDA Forest and Wildlife Website

I felt so much joy and excitement when I saw wildflowers blooming this Spring that I started writing a new song called "The Flowers have Gone Wild!" Since my last blog entry, I've added more verses to the chorus which you can see below. As I write this song, I am learning about the kinds of insects that pollinate wildflowers. They include bees, beetles, butterflies, wasps, ants and moths. What wildflowers and pollinating insects have you observed in your own backyards, parks and neighborhoods? CLICK HERE to tell me about them or to send photos. Below you can see photos of some of the wildflowers in my neighborhood in Laguna Beach, California.

Enjoy!

-Birdsong

Here are the new lyrics-in-progress to:
The Flowers Have Gone Wild!

CHORUS

Spoken: "The flowers have gone wild!"

The flowers have gone wild with colors bursting in the sun!
The flowers have gone wild, my child, they're blooming for everyone to see.
The birds are celebrating
And the bugs are pollinating!
'Cause the flowers have gone wild with colors bursting in the sun!

Verse1:
I like Spring, it's a really great thing
To see the wildflowers blooming all around.
Orange and white, red, yellow so bright!
And tiny purple and pink ones crawling on the ground.
I like how those flowers make me feel
So happy I just want to squeal: (to Chorus)

Verse2:
"I need you and you need me,"
said the flowering bush to the hungry buzzing bee.
"I have pollen for you to eat and when you move my pollen
from flower to flower you pollinate me."
Each flower gives the bug a nutritious meal.
If I were a bug, I''d want to squeal: (Chorus)

Verse3:
"Look at me! I'm made perfectly
with leaves and petals for just the right bug to land on.
With pollination and fertilization
I make seeds and fruit for animals to feast upon."
"Come on over" said the flowers to the butterflies and beetles.
"I have nectar that'll make you want to squeal:" (Chorus)

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Wildflowers and Insects and a new song-in-progress called THE FLOWERS HAVE GONE WILD!

Category: Plants | Habitats

Published: Friday, April 29, 2011

Dear Friends,

It's impossible to learn about wildflowers without learning about the insects and other creatures that pollinate them. It's a give-take relationship for sure! The nectar and pollen of wildflowers provide food and energy for bugs; and the bugs pollinate the wildflowers while they are drinking and eating the nectar and pollen. The pollinated flowers then produce fruit and seeds that make more wildflower plants to feed the pollinating insects and other animals. It's an amazing circle called the web of life! Wildflowers help insects and insects help wildflowers. It's a win-win relationship for everyone involved. Yes, indeed, wildflowers and insects are connected!

photos courtesy of Berlin Heck and A. Madara, found on the USDA Forest and Wildlife Website

I felt so much joy and excitement when I saw wildflowers blooming this Spring that I started writing a new song. I'm calling this song, The Flowers have Gone Wild! Since my last blog entry, I've added a verse to the chorus which you can see below. As I write this song, I am learning about the kinds of insects that pollinate wildflowers. They include bees, beetles, butterflies, wasps, ants and moths. What wildflowers and pollinating insects have you observed in your own backyards, parks and neighborhoods? CLICK HERE to tell me about them or to send photos. Below you can see photos of some of the wildflowers in my neighborhood in Laguna Beach, California.

Enjoy!

-Birdsong

Here are the new lyrics-in-progress to:
The Flowers Have Gone Wild!

CHORUS

Spoken: "The flowers have gone wild!"

Verse1:

I like Spring, it's a really great thing
To see the wildflowers blooming all around.
Orange and white, red, yellow so bright!
And tiny purple and pink ones crawling on the ground.

I like how those flowers make me feel
So happy I just want to squeal: (to Chorus)

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The Flowers Have Gone Wild!- a song-in-progress about wildflowers and insects that pollinate

Category: Plants | Habitats

Published: Thursday, April 07, 2011

Dear Friends,

It's Spring and the wildflowers are blooming! I am grateful for last Winter's rain and snow because it gave the plants enough water and energy to now make it possible for them to bloom with such beautiful flowers. I've been taking lots of walks and discovering the different colors, shapes and sizes of wildflowers in my neighborhood and local park. I especially enjoy watching insects landing on a flower to drink that flower's nectar, while at the same time pollinating it. It's exciting to hear the bumblebees buzzing and see the moths and butterflies fluttering near the flowers whose colors have caught their attention. I felt so much joy and excitement when I saw those wildflowers blooming this Spring that I started singing a brand new song. I'm calling this song, The Flowers have Gone Wild! You can see the chorus to the song below. In order to write the rest of the song, I want to find out more about wildflowers and what makes them bloom, as well as what kind of incests are drawn to them. What wild flowers and pollinating insects have you observed in your own backyards, parks and neighborhoods? CLICK HERE to tell me about them or to send photos. Below you can see photos of some of the wildflowers in my neighborhood in Laguna Beach, California.