Open Edition Print

The most common and most popular of the chickadees, this delicate little bird can be found in the northern part of California and in Oregon.  It is also abundant in the eastern states.

 Open Edition Print

The green-winged teal is one of our fastest and more colorful ducks.  This print captures the color as one launches off the water.

Open Edition Print

These flashy vocal fishermen abound in California, feeding exclusively on small fish in our local rivers and creeks.  These robin-size birds, dive head first into the water, spear the fish with their beak and emerge the victor!

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Common through out California, this little owl is extremely beneficial to man in keeping down the mouse and vole population.  In this painting I focused on the way the eyes stare at you.  Move to the left or right and you will find the eyes will follow you.

Open Edition Print

This small owl makes its habitat in the coniferous forests throughout the western states.  It is very approachable even tame by day.  The saw whet owl is often mistaken for a screech owl, but look for the tufts.  Its hoot is a monotonous low whistle note in one pitch, which I often hear outside my studio window at night.

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Unfortunately I don’t get to see this delicate little hummer around my northern California home.  The ruby throated hummingbird is an east coast bird with a gorget so brilliant it amazed me, when I saw one for the first time, in Virginia 25 years ago.

Open Edition Print

This delightful little hummer is probably the most common hummingbird in California

Open Edition Print

The violet bank of color separating the black chin from the white collar identifies this little hummer.  A resident of dry canyons of the western states, it is one of the smallest hummingbirds.  It’s most obvious characteristics are the iridescent purple chin band and white tips on its three outer most tail feathers

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

This little chickadee is found above 3000 feet in mountain forests.  At a distance, it is easily confused with the black-capped chickadee.   One difference is a white stripe above the eye and you must be close to the bird to observe the stripe.

Open Edition Print

Tufted Titmice are common in the woodlands.  These tiny birds hang around with Chickadees, and are often the subject of their harassment.

Open Edition Print

The snowy egret is a common visitor to our coastal marshes in California.  It is difficult to believe that this beautiful creature was almost exterminated during the 20's and 30's, because its feathers were used to adorn women’s hats.  The bird was saved by being federally protected.

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

The covey includes point men, male birds in the front and rear, checking out the lay of the land before the covey moves into open ground and keeping a watchful eye for predators while the birds are in an unprotected area.

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

These dainty yellow finches provide me with consistent delight, each time I pass by the thistles at the bottom of my hill.  Their diminutive size and vibrant color is eye catching

Open Edition Print

One of the "Golden Moments" series of prints

This striking bird of the central California wetlands is visible from a long distance.  Like the red-winged blackbird, this bird puts on a beautiful courtship display fluffing up the feathers on its head and neck to show off the brilliant color

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Toucans appear top heavy as they perch in the treetops.  It is this unusual feature that has created a black-market for these magnificent birds and has decimated much of the population.  The misty morning setting is what I observed from Temple number 7 on a trip to the rain forest in Guatemala

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Open Edition Print

Our Midwestern prairies were once abundant with millions of these small rodents.  Today as the prairies are rapidly disappearing -- so are the prairie dogs.  It is quite possible that the prairie dog will follow in the footsteps of the black-footed ferret and the Carolina parakeet.  In Prairie Passion two of the little dogs are sharing a morning snack.