INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The city of Indianapolis is teaming up with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a push to get more families and children hooked on urban bird-watching.

Indianapolis' BirdIndy program will distribute birding kits for educators, naturalists, youth leaders and bird watching enthusiasts. Those kits will include binoculars, field guides, activity books and Audubon bird calls, and they'll be available for rent at no cost at six locations in Indianapolis.

The program is a collaboration between the city, the Indianapolis Public Library and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

City Office of Sustainability Director Melody Park says birding is becoming more popular across the nation and the BirdIndy initiative “is designed to make birding fun and accessible to families.''