How i began to write animal songs for kidsCategory: Animal Songs- Ocean Published: Monday, July 13, 2009 Dear Friends, People often ask me how I began to write animal songs for kids. My answer is always the same: "It all began with The Tide Pool Song." Many years ago, I began to visit the tide pools in Laguna Beach, CA where I live. I wanted to learn more about them so that I could become a tidewater docent and teach others about the tide pools and how to protect the ocean animals who live there. I'll never forget my first afternoon in the tide pools. I was so excited to see hermit crabs, sea anemones, urchins, sea stars, barnacles, opoleye, sculpin, seaweed and octopus. Until that day, I had not realized how many different animals and plants lived in the tide pools. I began to learn about their characteristics and behaviors and how they survived the comings and goings of the strong ocean tides. For example, anemones cover themselves with small pieces of broken mussel shells in order to protect themselves from predators and from the heat of the sun. And did you know that sea stars have two stomachs? They put one of those stomachs outside their body to catch and digest their food. This allows them to catch bigger animals than they would by using their mouths. The more I learned, the more I felt a sense of wonder, awe and protectiveness toward the tide pool creatures. I couldn't wait to return and teach others what I had learned. One day, soon after that magical afternoon in the tide pools, I was at home strumming on my guitar and I began to hum a brand new tune. The more I hummed the tune, the more I felt the same feelings I had while I was at the tide pools: feelings of happiness, curiousity and wonder. Then I began to write words to go with the tune. Words like: "I wonder what I'll see at the tide pool today, what might crawl by or swim my way." and " I better walk so gently, treat it with care, so the tide pool life will always be there." Before I knew it, I had written my first animal song for kids, and I named it The Tide Pool Song. I began to sing it at the tide pools (of course), at schools, parties and wherever children would listen. It felt good to see how my song made kids (and adults) smile and want to learn more about the tide pools and tide pool protection. I am proud to say that "The Tide Pool Song" is used by the California State Parks and Orange County Parks as a teaching song for kids. It is also in an Emmy award-winning film called "Tidepool Scene." "The Tide Pool Song" is on the CD "IF I WERE A FISH and Other Ocean Songs for Kids" by Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders. I look forward to writing many more animal songs for kids. All it takes is an interesting animal or ecosystem to inspire me. And that happens all the time. -Birdsong
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Post a CommentOther Recent ArticlesI am writing a new song about the Little Pocket MouseCategory: Animal Songs Published: Friday, February 26, 2010 I am currently writing a new animal song for kids about this very cute and rare rodent. The Pacific Pocket Mouse, a subspecies of the Little Pocket Mouse, is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is classified as an endangered animal in California. . . I first learned about the Little Pocket Mouse when i went on a hike in San Onofre State Beach in San Clemente, California. There I learned that the Pacific Pocket Mouse was a hero of sorts, because it's endangered status is one of the key things that kept a new toll road from being built right through its habitat in San Onofre State Beach. When an animal has been declared endangered, wildlife protection laws usually also protect their habitat, and it very difficult to get approval to build on that habitat or put a road through it. San Onofre is a very beautiful park and many people believe that the Little Pacific Pocket Mouse saved this park from being nearly destroyed! . . . Whenever I write an new animal song for kids, I first learn as much as I can about the animal. . . I am still writing my Little Pocket Mouse song and look forward to adding it to my collection of animal songs for kids. Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders Go To Belize: Coral Reefs, Fish and Eco-Wonder KidsCategory: Eco-Wonder Kids Videos Published: Friday, February 12, 2010 If I were a fish, I think I would be very happy living in the coral reefs off the coast of Belize. You can see Belize on a map in this video. It is the home to the second largest barrier coral reef in the world. It’s a pretty great place for a fish to live. I know this, but not because I’m a fish. You see, I’m Birdsong (of Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders), I write animal songs for kids, and I visited those coral reefs not too long ago. There were so many different colors and kinds of coral which means lots of nutritious food for fish. And the coral reefs also had places for fish to hide, just in case a hungry shark came by looking for its dinner. Yes i am sure that, if i were a fish, i would feel very lucky to live in Belize. Not only because of the beautiful coral reefs, but also because of the children of Belize who are taking good care of the ocean. We met some of these children when Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders visited the RC School in San Pedro. Eco-Wonder Hero - Amara- Cleans up the beachCategory: Eco-Wonder Kids Videos Published: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 In this video, Birdsong interviews Amara, age 4, about the ways that she and her family are helping to keep the ocean clean. We think Amara is an Eco-Wonder Hero because everyday, in small ways, she is making a difference in our world. She makes a difference by picking up trash from the beach and doing other things that help keep the water, soil and air clean. These things include recycling, using reusable grocery bags and carpooling. Amara inspires others to join her in caring for the Earth that we share. Each of us, like Amara, can make a difference everyday. Eco-Wonder Kids - Claire sings BIG BLUE MARBLE - words and music by Michelle MartinCategory: Eco-Wonder Kids Videos Published: Friday, January 15, 2010 Eco-Wonder Kids - Claire, age 6, a fan of BIRDSONG AND THE ECO-WONDERS, sings BIG BLUE MARBLE by Michelle Martin. We will love the Earth wherever we roam, For this big blue marble is our home, And we know that everyone in it, And we know that everything in it, Will always be a part of who we are. Our 2009 Animal Songs for Kids by Birdsong and the Eco-Wonders. Thank you to our Fans!Category: Animal Songs Published: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 As 2009 draws to a close, I would like to thank all our fans for singing with us and doing your part to take care of the animals and plants with whom we share the Earth. Every one of you makes a difference when you choose actions that help keep the water, soil and air clean. We's also like to thank the eco-wonders (the amazing animals and plants) that inspired our new songs of 2009. These songs include I Almost Kissed a Butterfly, Plant a Habitat, and Leaders of the Pack . . . We'd like to give special thanks to our friends Sabrina from Oro Street, Jodi from EARTHROOTS FIELD SCHOOL and Lori and Reginald from BACK TO NATIVES RESTORATION for planting habitats and seeds of education in our community and inspiring verses in our song Plant a Habitat . . . Finally, thank you to the Defenders of wildlife and the National Resourse Defense Council (NRDC) for working so hard to protect the endangered gray wolves of North America and other endangered animals around the world. Your e-mails inspired me to learn more about wolves and write our song Leaders of the Pack.. 
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