Monday, June 15, 2015

Vanishing Hoopers

"Vanishing Hoopers" 8x10" oil on gessobord

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry. 
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.

— Lewis Carroll

The whooping crane has to be the most elegant, graceful and majestic bird to inhabit our planet. However, they are among the worlds rarest birds. According to Cornell Labs of Ornithology, the Whooping Crane—the tallest bird in North America—remains an endangered species, although it has rebounded from a low of just 15 cranes in the 1940s to about 600 today. Its recovery has been thanks to tireless efforts by conservationists, including Operation Migration, a creative program that helps Whooping Cranes learn migratory routes by leading these avian giants with an ultralight aircraft. Check out this beautiful Whooping Crane Cam from Operation Migration. (Be sure to turn up your volume.)

This painting was a commissioned piece to be gifted to a woman who is a founding member of a whoopers protection organization. I salute you Gwen for your amazing and sacred work.

Spread your wings and fly magnificent Whoopers, fill our longing skies! 
Thank you for viewing my favorite bird. 
 nancy 


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