Red-headed woodpecker

Activity 1A- Meeting the Bird

Spend some time looking at the gallery image of the red-headed woodpecker, reflecting on the following questions:

• What led you to choose this bird? 
• What colors, forms, or images stand out to you?
• What do you feel when you look at the bird? 

Learn: Read the short paragraph about the red-headed woodpecker and follow this link to learn more.

The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER is known for its distinctive red markings and loud, harsh calls. The birds are omnivorous, eating nuts, berries, insects, and even small rodents and the bark of trees.

Once very common throughout the United States, the species is now threatened in the eastern U.S. and has been decreasing in number continuously in Canada.

Reasons for the decline may include loss of nest sites (due to the cutting of dead trees) and rivalry with other birds for nest cavities. During its flight to catch insects, the woodpecker is often struck by cars along roadsides.

(audubon.org)

As you learn, consider the questions: 

• How have human actions (e.g. logging, use of pesticides, etc.) impacted the wellbeing of the red-headed woodpecker?
• What impacts would the red-headed woodpecker’s extinction have on the world? 

Activity 1B - Fostering Empathy

Dominique Paul often uses poetry to illustrate a sense of urgency around the effects of climate change and to build empathy with the species being impacted. 

Read the poems from the Age of Discovery Map: 

Notice the emotions that come up as you read the poems. How does Paul use poetry (word choice, rhythm, visual elements, etc.) as a device to foster empathy?

Just as the artist wrote poems for the Cape May Warbler and Swainson’s Hawk, have the option to create a poem for the red-headed woodpecker to inspire empathy and connection. 

Create your poem, using one of the provided options:

1. Develop a poem of your choosing, based on the information about the red-headed woodpecker.
2. Download and print the text to make a black out poem. Cross out words and letters in order to create a poem with the remaining words. 

See the following example for reference:

Activity 2 - Drawing Connections

Dominique Paul found that through drawing each of the endangered bird species, she connected to a deeper sense of empathy for them. To emulate her process, you will have the chance to create an art piece around the red-headed woodpecker. Turn the bird into an art piece by coloring the image or layering images on it in a collage.
Download and Print the drawing. 

Reflect on what came up for you by adding your thoughts to a word cloud: 

See the results here:

Activity 3 - Map of Memories

How are our lives intertwined with those of birds? Think back to an experience you shared with a bird. It could be ongoing or fleeting; impactful or mundane. Just notice a moment of intersection and sit with the experience.  

Go to the shared world map to add your memory. You may write out your memory, draw something, use a photograph, or link to an online image. 

Activity 4 - Pledge to the Birds

Now that you have built your connection with the red-headed woodpecker, you have the opportunity to take action to protect it. 

What responsibilities do you have towards protecting birds that are currently endangered and that could become endangered from the effects of climate change and human extraction? 

Write a pledge to the birds with an action you will take to ensure the birds like the red-headed woodpecker can continue to survive. 

Share your pledge.