One very passionate and creative man, Henry Lappen, took his love and knowledge for birds coupled with his passion for performance arts and created an educational artistic experience for all: A Passion For Birds. According to his website,

A Passion for Birds uses masks to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the avian world. Captivated by Henry Lappen’s beautiful masks and comic portrayal of birds, participants learn how animals adapt to their environment, and why they look and act the way they do.

• Birds’ beaks are compared with common tools.
• Feathers and footprints are explored.
• Science facts and anecdotes are shared.

A Passion for Birds covers several of the core curriculum standards for science. A curriculum guide is available.
 Henry’s combined love and knowledge of birds, and his extraordinary ability as a performer make for a very lively show.

Throughout it all, Henry dances among the crowd demonstrating the form and motion of the different species. Learning some specific mime skills, and imaging more, the audience joins him, taking on the character of each bird while gaining additional knowledge about it. Participants don the masks, and soar as Eagles, stalk as Herons and swim as Puffins. Additional topics include nest building, preening and hiding from danger.

One of his birds of choice is the ATLANTIC PUFFIN!!! =) See the photograph below of his puffin mask…

Photo Source: http://www.henrylappen.com/birdgallery/index.html

You can watch a video clip of the performance here. Or if you are in the Massachusetts area in the end of July,

“The Massachusettes Department of Conservation and Recreation will present “A Passion for Birds”, a comic, interactive, educational show, at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 31, at Wachusett Mountain State Reservation 345 Mountain Road. Created and performed by Henry Lappen, “A Passion for Birds” (formerly Birds in Their Habitat) uses realistic, handmade masks to explore how different birds have evolved different shapes and behaviors to adapt to their environment. Participants get a chance to try on the masks and soar as Eagles, swim as Puffins, and stalk as Herons. This program is free and registration is not required. For information, call Matt at (978) 464-2987.”¹

1. http://www.leominsterchamp.com/news/2010-07-16/Your_City/A_PASSION_FOR_BIRDS_PERFORMANCE.html [↩]