BIRDS are CHARACTERS

My class is exploring birds for the next month or two. We use birds for our learn-how-to-research project. I split the class into several groups then each group is assigned a group of birds according to habitat(waterbirds/shorebirds, woodlands/forests, urban/open areas, deserts).

Students can pick and choose the birds they research, as long as those birds are found in their assigned habitats. This approach gives students some control over learning. What? Students control what they learn? Yes, in fact most of them really get into their research because they're learning about birds that interest them. How's that for educational philosophy!

Probably asking yourself, what's this have to do with writing?

The answer...

Character.

That's right... Character.

The further you delve into characteristics of bird species, you start to realize birds have personalities and traits, just like humans. Surprisingly, most of their behavioral traits parallel us (you and me). Maybe I'm more aware of this because I write fiction and spend a lot of time making up characters with admirable and not-so-admirable qualities. But it's not rocket science (unless you're referring to the peregrine falcon that can travel over 200 mph... like a rocket). It's behavior science (okay smart pants, it's actually called sociology).

Look at the common behavioral characteristics of these birds and I bet you'll find some similarities to many, or all, of your fictional characters. You know the ones, those characters you create that keep you up at night because they're so quirky and likable or evil and detestable that you can't stop thinking about them. You might even find that a bird closely resembles one of your relatives (especially your in-laws) or a dear friend (like the one who laughs annoyingly but you can't bring yourself to say anything about it). Is it really worth saying anything?

Here are the birds and their fictional counterparts:

1. BLUE JAY - harsh, annoying voice; often mimics other birds (picks fights)

CHARACTER - that pesky little runt-of-a-kid who only talks in annoying voices and won't leave your main character alone

2. GREAT GRAY OWL - perches during the day, always looks like its thinking; hunts all night

CHARACTER - can't sleep, suffers from insomnia or something close to it; walks around in a daze and looks bored, but really there's a lot going on up there

3. BLACK VULTURE - flies high overhead, looks for carcasses of any kind for food

CHARACTER - boy who waits for best friend (girl) to get dumped and then makes his move

4. CRANE - eats whatever comes along, changes its diet according to surroundings, dance about to impress would-be mates

CHARACTER - follows the crowd, opinion changes depending on what's popular or what everyone else is doing or saying, overly-happy and jumpy-dancy (made that up) to be part of the "in" crowd 

5. HOUSE WREN - overconfident; daring; bold; likable

CHARACTER - boy out to impress girl that is way out of his league, buys her candy, writes her notes, carries her books, asks her to amusement park, holds her hand, ferris wheel reaches its peak, BAM -- FIRST KISS!

DING-DING-DING-WINNER!