And Environment for the Americas.

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Presented by Nashville Zoo

• And Environment for the Americas.

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Birds have always been important to Native People

• They are found in
• Storytelling
• Art
• Music Dance
• Spirituality
• Food
• Conservation

Peace Pipe
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Storytelling Tribes share their beliefs through
stories

• Why is the American Crow Black?
• The Crow brought fire to Earth from the Great
  Spirit turning the crows feathers black and its
  voice hoarse.

The Rainbow Crow is a story of the Lanape tribe
of the Eastern United States.
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Cave ArtBirds are in the earliest art left by
native people

• Cave art gives us a look at the lives of early
  cultures.

This rock art is from a Caribbean cave. Notice
the long legs and billit most likely represents
a crane or other waterbird.
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Pottery Weaving Birds are often found on
everyday items
This pot was made by the Acoma Tribe in the
Southwestern, United States.
This Navajo Tree of Life was woven in Cortex,
Colorado.
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Feathers Add beauty and meaning in the creation
of ceremonial objects, hunting tools, and dress
Peace Pipe
Sword
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Bird Masks Give life to the qualities of birds
native people admire

• Tribes of the South, East, and Midwest in the
  United States believed that warriors who wore a
  Falcon mask during a hunt ceremony would gain
  speed and agility.

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MusicNative People continue to use music in
ceremonies
Haida Bird Rattle from British Columbia, Canada.
(From the University of Michigan Stearns
Collection of Musical Instruments.)
Bird whistle from the Guaymi Native People of
Chiriqui, Panama.
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SpiritualityBirds make the connection

• Native People believed birds carried messages
  to the spirits.

Because of its speed, the Peregrine Falcon was a
special messenger to the spirits.
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Hummingbirds Sacred Pollinators

• The Native People of the Caribbean believed
  that hummingbirds were the pollinators of life on
  earth.

Embera Tribe of Panama and the Hopi, Zuni, and
Pueblo Tribes in the United States performed
hummingbird dances.
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Eagles Hawks Divine Spirits

• Eagles and Hawks, known as Thunderbirds, were
  believed to have special powers in the upper
  world.
• Shamen of some tribes used Eagle feathers to heal
  the sick.

Native People carried or wore bird of prey
feathers to call upon the Thunderbird spirit.
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WoodpeckersSacred Life Force

• Woodpeckers were associated with the sun
• a life sustaining element.

Woodpeckers were considered sacred because of
their fire-colored head feathers.
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Ducks Help on the Path to Afterlife

• Some Tribes believed that ducks aided the dead
  on their journey to the afterworld.

Photo By USFWS
Burial sites often contained pottery and other
items with ducks on them. This pottery is from a
tribe in Peru.
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FoodBirds provide important food even now

• A young boy of the Aleut Tribe at St. Pauls
  Islands, Alaska helps with the seabird egg
  harvest.

Careful harvesting has little effects on seabird
populations.
Photo by USFWS
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Hunting Native People Invented Decoys

• Native People were the first to make and use
  floating decoys to hunt waterfowl.

Photo Decoys by Waaban Aki Crafting
The Cree Tribe of James Bay, Canada still makes
decoys today.
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Bird Conservation

• Many Native People are dedicated to bird
  conservation throughout the Americas.

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Bringing Back Trumpeter Swans

• The Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe in
  Montana has reintroduced Trumpeter Swans to their
  lands.

Photo by Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes
Montana
Fourteen pairs have returned to nest!
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Protecting Habitat Tribes in the Great Lakes
area are protecting habitat for cranes
Photo by USFWS
Native People have long copied the beautiful
dances of Sandhill Cranes.
Sandhill Cranes were thought to offer warriors
protective powers.
www.birdday.org
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Preserving Wetlands for the Birds
Old Crow Flats Yukon, Canada
Photo by John Meikle
The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation of the Canadian
Yukon is working to protect 2 million acres of
wetlands.
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Helping the Harpy Eagle
Tribes of Ecuador and Panama are helping
biologists protect the magnificent Harpy Eagle.
Photo by USFWS
The Quichuas and Confanes tribes of Ecuador are
being trained to help with research.
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Celebrate Birds in Your Culture

• What does the Bald Eagle symbolize in the
  United States?

Photo by USFWS
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Celebrate Birds in Your Culture

• What does the Turkey symbolize in the United
  States?

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Consider Birds in Your Culture

• Are birds mascots of your school or favorite
  sports team?
• Do you enjoy bird art in your home or jewelry?
• Do birds have particular meaning in your
  religion?
• What birds represent the seasons of the year to
  you?

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Conserving BirdsAwareness to Action!

• Take the next step in your community.
• CommunityHelp at a local nature center or visit
  the Zoo thereby supporting the Nashville Zoo
  Feather Project.
• BackyardPlant for birds Clean your feeders
  Keep cats indoors
• International Migratory Bird DayParticipate in a
  conservation activity today

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The Nashville Zoo Feather Project

• Many native cultures use feathers in their
  headdress, pipes, and customary garb. Some of the
  feathers traditionally used belong to birds that
  are now endangered.
• The Nashville Zoo aides in conservation while
  helping preserve native cultures by sending the
  naturally shed feathers of our birds to various
  indigenous tribes.

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Thank You!

• Thank you for visiting us today and learning how
  you can help the plight of migratory birds and
  what amazing impacts they have had on all aspects
  of our lives.
• For more information and to access helpful
  worksheets please visit the education resources
  page at www.nashvillezoo.org