Bird Drawing with James Armstrong

James Armstrong made a second visit to the 1-2s today!  This time, instead of tanks of tide pool creatures, he brought a model skeleton of a bird he created with items around his home.  

James showed us the way a bird's skeletal anatomy is similar to our own - ribs, vertebrae, skull, pelvis, leg and arm (wing) bones.  James even brought some actual bird bones for us to see and touch.  We learned that bird bones are hollow, so they are light.

Understanding the make-up of a bird's bone structure underneath the skin and feathers helps us visualize the shape of the outer bird.  We were excited to draw along with James today.  This practice will help us make our bird drawings for the Junior Duck Stamp Contest more accurate and realistic!