Woodpeckers

July 23, 2011

Here we are back at our favorite state park again for a Saturday class. This time it’s about Woodpeckers!

As usual we arrived a bit early and Ms. Katherine was kind enough to let Austin (being the responsible 15 year old that he is) use her ZPix hand held microscope to show the littler ones all kinds of neat things she had prepared for a different class. Of course we just had to order one of our own ZPix once we got home.

At first we were the only ones there but a little while after the class started another family showed up. Ms. Katherine told us how to identify the different kinds of woodpeckers, what unique characteristics only they have, and in the above picture she explained why there is sap found around the outside of the woodpeckers nesting hole.

Many times as we walked hiking trails we have spotted the Yellow-bellied Sap Suckers “sap taps” on trees in the prefect little rows. So when Ms. Katherine started talking about them, my kids turned to me with the “Hey, we have seen that before” look.

She told us about the Ivory-billed woodpecker which was thought to be extinct but recently they have found a few in Arkansas in an undisclosed location. Thankfully they are keeping the location a secret so the bird can have the best chance to make a come back.

After a great lesson on woodpeckers, we have a quick quiz on identifying them and then on to the craft. She had the kids color a cool little woodpecker that “pecks” it’s way up and down its string “tree trunk.” We were  all impressed with the inventiveness of this craft.

Austin decided to wait to color his until he was home but was playing with it while the others colored their craft. Ms. Katherine complimented Austin on how well he had his working.

The kids busy coloring their woodpecker!

She had made this toilet paper roll craft up ahead of time and gave it to us as a door prize, “Yay!” a souvenir! My whole family absolutely loves going to these little classes. Even Stewart brags on what a great time he has, which surprises me because he is not exactly the “studious” type like the kids and I are. Another great biology fieldtrip to Martin Dies Jr. State Park.