Gift idea for 5th grader that loves rocks and birds- not little stuff

[SnuggleBuggles]

Ds1 loves rocks and he loves birds. Any good books, toys or activities? I don't want any little things like a bird caller b/c little toys like that are the bane of my housekeeping existence. :) Thanks!

[egoldber]

Does he have a good bird identification book?

http://www.amazon.com/Peterson-Field-Guide-America-Guides/dp/0618966145/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1355773893&sr=8-12&keywords=bird+identification+books

http://www.amazon.com/Sibley-Field-Guide-Eastern-America/dp/067945120X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1355773914&sr=8-5&keywords=bird+identification+books

Decent binoculars?

We have an older version of these and they are excellent and lightweight: http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-62217-8-16x21-Zoom-Binocular/dp/B00076WOC4/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1355773824&sr=8-15&keywords=binoculars

[kristenk]

Any chance you want to do the Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count? http://birds.audubon.org/get-involved-christmas-bird-count-find-count-near-you

The counts run from 12/14 - 1/5 and are different for different areas.

[elbenn]

Could you get a rock polishing kit? Something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Model-T-Kit-Rock-Tumbler/dp/B000066CMM/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1355777254&sr=1-2&keywords=rock+polisher

[kristac]

DS2 is a bird lover as well
He is getting-
Alex Home Tweet Home http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Toys-663W-HOME-TWEET/dp/B00004U3FV/ref=wl_it_dp_o_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3SUOQS977TZMU&coliid=I1KJK1SMPEP23E
Feeder http://www.amazon.com/Perky-Pet-348-Clear-Window-Feeder/dp/B000NVM2L6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3SUOQS977TZMU&coliid=I1AV5GL18FGU56
Birdseed
This Guide: http://www.amazon.com/Stokes-Beginners-Guide-Birds-Eastern/dp/0316818119/ref=wl_it_dp_o_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3SUOQS977TZMU&coliid=I2F8GYRADC1XPV
Dress up wings from Magic Cabin (probably too young for a 5th grader though)

Other ideas
http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Angry-Birds-Feathered/dp/1426209967/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3SUOQS977TZMU&coliid=I3CQTBIZR7IH8X

Bird drawing book
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=drawing%20birds&sprefix=drawing+bi%2Cstripbooks&rh=n:283155%2Ck%3Adrawing%20birds

Box for his rock collection?
Microscope http://www.amazon.com/Carson-MM-200-Micromax-60X-100X-Microscope/dp/B000P8AUMU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355778072&sr=8-1&keywords=hand+microscope
gem mining set
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=gem+mining&sprefix=gem+min%2Caps%2C241

[mik8]

A good quality rock tumbler and a pair of binoculars. I suppose you already have resource books.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Great ideas, all! I'm going to a rock and bead store tomorrow so I'll look for things suggested there (a rock storage box would be great, for example). Thanks! I had also forgotten that the Audubon society meets pretty near by.