Why Teach Bird Drawing?
by Kris Kirkeby Audubon in the Schools Coordinator 541-349-2439 cr1ckets0ng (at) rgisp.com. Look around you-notice the light switch, the chair you’re sitting in, the color of the floor, and the design of your pen. All of these objects have elements of design which were created by drawings, either on paper or on a computer. Think about the variety of skills you use each and every time you go out birding. We form mental images from sounds, shapes, and colors. What sound does the warbler make? What shape is its silhouetted head? What color are the wings? Serious birders may make these observations automatically, but remember, in the beginning, everyone must work very hard to learn. We investigate an object in the same way when we try to make an accurate drawing. This approach is the difference between looking and seeing. Our trained Audubon in the Schools instructors combine lessons of bird biology and accurate drawing based on information observed by the students. Critical thinking is in
