
Day 3 of Ducks

Day 2 of Ducks

Sweet Duck
I feel a week of ducks coming on.
Playful Partridge
I can’t help it…the crested partridge reminds me of the troll dolls I played with as a kid.
Aristocrat

Old jester Looks to the Future

Sometimes things turn up and you don’t know where they came from. But this old fellow makes me cry.
Crested Wood Partridge

Secretary Bird

Every time I give myself a little assignment, I find myself launched on a voyage of discovery. This week’s focus on fancy crowns or head feathers has led me to the Secretary Bird, sometimes described as an eagle on stilts– found across sub-Saharan Africa, up to five feet tall (almost as big as an antelope) yet weighing under ten pounds. Their Latin name, Sagittarius serpentarius, means archer of serpents, and they stomp poisonous snakes to death with their terrifying feet (I feel another foot drawing coming on.) And their head feathers are pretty amazing, too!
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Well over a year ago, I drew a bird very much like this Victoria Crowned Pigeon that I thought had come out of my imagination. As I learn more about birds, I realize that nothing I can invent surpasses what actually exists —though this beautiful creature is endangered in its native New Guinea.
Hoopoe

Why stop with just a few flashy head feathers?
Great in Gray…

The largest eagle in the world, the Harpy is, admittedly, a little odd looking… but I love those wild gray feathers…
Schalow’s Turacot

Gray Crested Crane

This week, I’m enjoying looking at spectacular head feathers …
Outta Here

Heron Feet

Heron Dancing

The 150th Bird

On this, my 150th bird-day, I’m celebrating with a peacock, a companion to the peacock I drew for the 100th bird-day…
Landing

More Owl Feet

Owl Feet are so Strange…

Quick Sketch

Crane Feet

Raven’s Foot
At this point, I have spent a fair amount of time contemplating my own crow’s feet, but this is the first time I have looked at a raven’s foot so closely. And like anything we honor with acute attention, it is exquisite and also a bit scary…
Red Sky Tonight

Little Red Bird

Chubster

Ghost Bird

And looser…

Loosen Up
I’ve been enjoying my jays, but they are getting very pretty and precise. I’m feeling the need to let go and loosen up.
Cajoling Jay
The verb cajole – to nag or wheedle or persuade – comes from the French cajoler, to chatter like a jay.
Jay

From the Underside…

Scratchy Jay

Winter Jay II

Quizzical Jay

Winter Jay

Little Bit

Young ‘Un

Free-play Jay

Preen
A little under the weather today after my second vaccination yesterday…but so grateful. And a preening goose makes me feel a lot better.
Take a Bow
After a week of the elegant blackbird, I have returned to the silly goose… who is quite elegant, too.
Landing

Blackbird V

Blackbird IV

Blackbird III

Blackbird II
My collaborator has gone home, and I’m back on my own. I should title this “Black Bird Feeling Blue.”
Western Tanager Collaboration
Another collaboration with my 7-year-old grandson, PJ. I provided an outline and then he provided everything that makes it art — the colors (including for the background) and the handling of strokes. I LOVE this!
Blackbird

PJ’s Imaginary Bird
“I just love imaginary birds, don’t you, TreeMa?”
“I do!”
“I’m going to draw one by myself.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea.”
And so the prodigy surpasses the teacher… such an old story. Sigh. And delight!
