Winter can be a tough time for birds, from even the simplest of daily tasks becoming a bigger challenge during this time of year. From finding food, to avoiding becoming food for someone else, to just trying to stay warm in temperatures that could drop into the negatives. But birds are resourceful and have adapted…
Blog
Bird Anatomy: Pectinate Claw, The Built-in Comb
Feather quality is important for a bird’s survival, it provides insulation and flight to name a few. Keeping these feathers in top condition is crucial for their survival. To do this, birds spend lots of time preening, but it can be difficult to reach feathers around their face. Some species will have others of its…
Owl adaptations
If you asked someone what their favorite bird species is, many will respond with some species of owl. What’s not to like? They are a beautiful group of birds, full of mystery and not as often seen as other birds who are active during the day. When you see one, it tends to be the…
Species Spotlight: Steller’s Sea Eagle
On August 30th 2020, a steller’s sea eagle was seen at Denali National Park in Alaska. This was not the first time this species has been seen in this state, but it was unusual in the fact that this individual was seen so far inland. Afterwards, on March 10, 2021, it was then spotted at…
Species Spotlight: Hoary Redpoll
In the northernmost reaches of north america is a small little finch species, white and frosty as the snow and a red forehead. Both features give hints to this species name. This little round arctic bird is called the hoary redpoll. This species spotlight episode is going along with my art project of lifesize birds…
A Conservation Story: The California Condor
In 1987 there were only 22 california Condors left in the wild, numbers had plummeted and it seemed certain that this great bird would soon become extinct. That’s when a plan was put into action and every single wild california condor was captured and put into a captive breeding program with hopes of saving this…
Growing up Bird: Altricial vs Precocial
In the spring and summer months you may have noticed that not all the baby birds are born with the same skills, just compare a baby robin to a baby canada goose. One hatches with eyes closed, barely any down fuzz while the other hatches with complete down, eyes open and within the day is…
Species Spotlight: Black-Capped Chickadee
I’m adding another series featuring different species of birds found throughout North America, these species spotlight episodes will go along and in order with an art project I started in the beginning of 2021 and am currently working on. Those who follow me on my facebook and instagram may have already seen the start of…
A Conservation Story: The Whooping Crane
To start this series off with the honor of it being may 28th, which is whooping crane day, we will start with spotlighting this species and the process that it took to bring these species population to where it is today. While you may be familiar with this bird’s cousin the sandhill crane, the whooping…
Birds of North America Project
As an artist and lifelong birder, its always been in my head to do a huge art project revolving around birds. The idea that most stuck out to me was drawing all the birds of North America. But just drawing all those species just didn’t seem like enough, even though drawing all those species in…