Plate 37. Golden-winged Woodpecker 

Here is a lithograph, Plate 37. Golden-winged Woodpecker, from John James Audubon's *Birds of America*, which was created in the 19th century. Audubon was a naturalist, but also a man of his time, and the historical context of this print raises questions about the relationship between art, science, and colonialism. Audubon sought to document all the birds of North America, yet this endeavor coincided with westward expansion, dispossession of Indigenous peoples, and ecological transformation. The woodpeckers, rendered with scientific precision, can also be seen as symbols of a rapidly changing landscape. We must ask ourselves: Whose perspective is privileged in this depiction of nature? Consider the emotional weight of witnessing species decline or extinction, a phenomenon accelerated by human activity. Audubon’s work invites us to reflect on our role in shaping the natural world and the ethical implications of representation. This print embodies both the beauty and the burdens of our relationship with nature.