Emily Dagney, Bell Oaks School
Camden County
First Place, Camden County, Red-headed Woodpecker (c) Emily Dagney
Red-Headed Woodpecker
As I peck at a tree, I sharply look around the ground for a source of food. I am a Red-Headed Woodpecker. I have dark feathers that help me hide in the forest, but the bright red feathers make me stick out a.bit. I live in forests, orchards and parks. I peck away at trees to make my home. We Red-Headed Woodpeckers live in holes we make in trees. From our homes in the trees, we can spot food easily.
We woodpeckers eat nuts, seeds, berries, and other fruits. It is hard to obtain this food when predators are around. Red shouldered hawks and pedigree falcons are the big bad birdies that like to eat me. I have to be careful or they can gulp me right up. To get my food I usually hide in bushes and trees, then I grab my food quickly and I go back up to my humble home. Ifthey come after me I either run back to my home or give them a peck on the head to scare them off.
The big birdies aren't my worst enemy. My worst enemies are humans. Farmers kill me because I eat their crops. Humans kill me because they want to make "pretty" hats or "fancy" jewelry. Why cant they grow their own feathers? Roads and cars are the things that kill my species the most. Cars hit us while we are flying, and humans destroy our forests with building roads. I had to rebuild my house twice! Now, if any humans are reading this stop killing my species and help us stay alive!
Written by: Emily Dagney
Bell Oaks School, Bellmawr, NJ
Teacher: Mrs. Cilvik