Madison Audubon Society Art Fair 2013

Hey there and a big thanks to everyone who stopped by our table at the Madison Audubon Society Art Fair!!   Joe and I meet a bunch a wonderful people and fellow bird nerds. We received a warm welcome and left lighter a few birds but heavier a few pounds of cheese and brats!  We even had a chance to visit the International Crane Foundation to see all 15 species cranes.

And for those of you who couldn’t decide which of Joe’s bird prints to purchase you can find them at www.horsepuppy.com

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

In Greek mythology Alcyone found her husband drowned and cast herself into the sea. The gods rewarded her devotion by turning her into a kingfisher and forbade the winds to blow during the “Halcyon Days” when legend has it that the kingfisher lays its eggs.

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Young sparrows will learn their song during their first few months from friends and family in their neighborhoods.  As a result birds have developed regional dialects. Some say “you all”  while others prefer “y’all” or “yall”.

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Song Sparrows, being ground nesters are not interested in building their nests in cavities of any kind including a nest box. This is perhaps why there are no birdhouses that have been built specifically for the Song Sparrow. These guys don’t need our help anyway they are one of the most abundant, variable and adaptable species.

Hey if your at San Diego Comic Con come by table F3 and say hi!

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Oh my!  ‘Tis a parliament o’ owl.  A resounding huzzah for the good fellows!

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

Hey who’s that adorably tiny blueish gray fellow that bounces around catching gnats?  Why that’s the always dapper blue-gray gnatcatcher.

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

second edition

This common greenlet sings non stop and carefree from dusk til dawn barely pausing for a breath or a quick bug to eat. The boys have been known to sing more than 10,000 songs a day trying to impress a lady.

Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum)

third edition

Mayan Legend of the Motmot

The Motmot, who was too pretty to be bothered with work, hid in the bushes and slept. While the other birds prepared for a big storm.  He didn’t notice that his long tail stuck out onto a trail where the working birds kept stepping on it, causing barbs to fall out. The storm never came.  Later, as all the birds gathered to preen and enjoy their fortune, they laughed at the Motmot’s tail. The embarrassed Motmot fled into the forest, dug a burrow, and became a recluse.

Green-breasted Mango Hummingbird (Anthracothorax prevostii)

Since these loving mothers do all the work caring for their blind and naked children she has little patience and forces food down the chick’s throats with her long bill directly into their stomachs.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Likes: insects, apple slices, and canned peas

Dislikes: global warming, litter bugs and close talkers

Hobbies include hanging out with friends and getting drunk off fermented berries

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

second edition

These blue canaries migrate at night using stars.  They have a tiny compass tucked carefully under wing that adjusts their angle of orientation to a star as it moves through the sky.  Turtles do not navigate by star-they are near sighted and have no pockets for a compass.

Red Knot (Calidris canutus)

Commercial harvesting of the horseshoe crab in Delaware Bay has put this tiny traveler on New Jersey’s endangered species list.  These guys make one of the longest migration of any animal and rely on the horseshoe crab eggs as much needed power ups

Rock Dove (Columba livia)

A pigeon’s story

Cher Ami saved the lives of “Lost Battalion,” part of New York’s 77^th Division of the U.S. Army during WWI. In spite of having his leg shot off and a bullet in his breast he still managed to deliver a message for help.  Cher Ami was sent home after the war and along with 40 other pigeons were honored for their service and given a happy retirement.  Rats with wings my ass.