Educational design and curriculum by Rachel Mewes and Ayelet Danielle Aldouby
Song for the Birds is a paired curriculum with Dominique Paul’s Silent Fall exhibition, developed by Rachel Mewes in collaboration with Ayelet Danielle Aldouby, that explores the consequences of climate catastrophe through the lens of connection and empathy.
The Roseate Tern is a coastal bird that often nests on rocky islands with little plant cover. The birds feed mostly on fish and mollusks.
This species used to be widespread along the Atlantic coast, but their numbers have vastly declined, in part due to rivalries with other birds and due to increased hunting in their wintering grounds in South America.
The roseate tern is now endangered in New York state, the United States, and Canada. Its population is estimated to have fallen significantly since the1930s.
The Eskimo Curlew is a migratory shorebird, but it also spends time in grasslands, feeding on grasshoppers.
Decades ago, the Eskimo Curlew was extremely common in North America, with a population in the many millions. Unfortunately, the species has not been seen for the past 55 years and hunting and the destruction of grasslands are thought to have influenced its decline. The species is currently considered endangered in the United States, but in Canada, it has already been deemed extinct.
Scientists hope the plight of this shorebird will inspire protection for other troubled curlew species.
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.
The Bald Eagle was adopted as the symbol of the United States because of its independence and strength. It is the only eagle indigenous solely to North America and became a threatened species by the 1970’s.
Only the 1972 ban on DDT* provided protection for eagles, enabling them, once again, to produce young.
However, forest logging and development along watercourses is destroying the bird's habitat, resulting in reproductive failure and nest abandonment.
*Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethae (DDT) is an insecticide used in agriculture
The Caspian Tern is larger than many gulls and nests on five of seven continents. Endangered in North America, it is common along both coasts and large bodies of water.
The Caspian Tern is known for its long adolescence, with the young dependent on their parents for many months; even in late winter, many adult caspians are trailed by a begging youngster from the previous nesting season.
Its beach nesting areas are vulnerable to disturbance and predation. While the tern's numbers are increasing overall, the species is endangered and threatened in certain geographic regions.
Pick one of the birds above, and do the activities suggested below to reflect on biodiversity and the effect of human activities on the health of the ecosystem.
Spend some time looking at the gallery image of your chosen bird, reflecting on the following questions:
Read the short paragraph about your chosen bird, and follow the link to learn more on the Audubon Society Website. As you learn, consider the questions:
Audubon Society links:
Roseate Tern - Eskimo Curlew - Red-Headed Woodpecker - Bald Eagle - Caspian Tern
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 roseate tern to inspire empathy and connection.
Create your poem, using one of the provided options:
Roseate Tern - Eskimo Curlew - Red-Headed Woodpecker - Bald Eagle - Caspian Tern
See the following example for reference:
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 your chosen bird. Turn the bird into an art piece by coloring the image or layering images on it in a collage. Download and print the drawing of you chosen bird here:
Roseate Tern - Eskimo Curlew - Red-Headed Woodpecker - Bald Eagle - Caspian Tern
Reflect on what came up for you by adding your thoughts to a word cloud:
See the results here:
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.
Now that you have built your connection with the roseate tern, 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 roseate tern can continue to survive.
Thanks to the Roman Foundation for making this educational program possible.
See all of Silent Fall exhibition's partners