'Why the woodpecker is still tapping' is a folk tale that can be found in the book 'The Magpies Nest- a treasury of bird folk tales' by Taffy Thomas.
In this short story we are transported back to a time when the whole world was covered with forest. The day had arrived for Mother Nature to release all the insects into the world, but things didn't go to plan.
A curious and excited man upset the rhythm of the day and felt the wrath of an angry Mother Nature. That man lives on until this day deep in the forest, can you spot him the next time you're in the woods?
After listening to this story consider the following questions:
In the story Mother Nature becomes angry as she had chosen special places for each insect to be placed. Can you make a list of insects and where you think they live?
The man in the story is changed into a bird but we never find out if he preferred being a man or a bird. Have you ever thought about being a bird and flying high above the tree tops, do you think it would be fun? If you could choose to be a bird which type would you be?
The woodpecker is still trying to return all of the insects to the bag but spends all of its time tapping on trees, is this a good strategy? Head outdoors and see where you might find insects, there will be some hiding beneath the dead bark of trees or where else might you find insects?