I hung up my suet feeders this week and they are already frequented by a wide array of birds. Woodpeckers are one of my favorite visitors. So far this season, I’ve seen downy and red bellied woodpeckers.

Did you know that bioengineers are studying woodpeckers to design new football helmets and head protection gear for other sports?

Listen for, as well as look for, these interesting birds when you hike. Examine dying trees. Do you see any sign that woodpeckers were there?

For young children to understand what a feat it is for a woodpecker to drill a hole in wood, ask a child to hammer nails into a tree stump. This is also a great fine motor task.

Watch full screen.

Watch full screen.

Use the Owl and the Woodpecker to teach story structure – characters, setting, problem, and resolution. Stop mid-story and discuss possible resolutions.