Sorry to take so long to post but I have been very busy pulling together this art show. It shows my growth as an artist over the last thirty year of drawing, printing and painting birds.

Here is one of my walls that I had to fill.  These are drawing using graphite and pastels

     There were a lot of walls to fill so I worked and worked and worked.  I didn't know how it was going to look so I was surprised to see it up.  Thank you to the Jekyll Island Art association's Rosemary and Stephanie for hanging so well.  The show is at the Goodyear Cottage on Jekyll Island.  It will run through the end of the April.




Here are a few more pieces.

 The other artist in the show is Nancy Adams of Savannah Georgia.  Her organic gourds are simply beautiful.                                                                         

Of course, what I work so hard for is the Plover Patrol to help the birds that are my driving force. So it is back to the birds.  Also I would like to thank David Fisher for taking these great photos of the show. 

Plover Patrol goes to the Jekyll Island Green Screen Event

It was so much fun sharing the Plover Patrol with so many people at the First Green Screen Event on Jekyll Island.  If you have not seen the film "Chasing Ice", do see it.  Beautiful photography. 

Here is Abby Sterling and I in front of her research poster on Wilson's Plovers. 

The Venice Area Audubon Society comes to Jekyll

The Venice Area Audubon Society group came to Jekyll.  They came in yesterday February 5.  We saw Avocets, Whimbrels and assorted shorebirds at the Wild Viewing Tower on the causeway.  Then I lead them over to Amphitheater for nature's  nightly heron show....(the birds come into roost)
Then this morning we went out to southend beach for gulls, terns, skimmers and the Wilson's Plovers. 
      It was fun showing this wonderful group Jekyll's birds. 

Banding Marsh Sparrows

My Bird Rambles are spontaneous.  Before I meet my group , I look at the marshes and watch for birds.  This tells me where to go and what to show my guests.  So when I saw Tim Keyes and the crew preparing to band marsh sparrow, I knew what my group was going to see that day.  We got to the crew as they were taking the birds out of the nets.  So, I stood back and told my group to looking into the marsh.  The tide was super high so all the normally secretive sparrows were right up so we could watch wild sparrows moving around.  It was what makes birding an "in the moment" event.  We were there watching sharp-tailed sparrows.

Here is a picture of the crew taking birds out of the nets.Tim Keyes on the left and Charlie Muise on the right are working quickly and smoothly banding sparrows.

Here is a Nelson's Sparrow.  This bird is a target species for this on going marsh sparrow study here in Georgia.

Here is Charlie talking to my "Ramblers" about the Seaside Sparrow.

Priscilla is preparing to release a Seaside Sparrow under the direction of Todd. 

Lourdes not only learned that there were birds in the marsh called Seaside Sparrow, she got to release one. What a great morning!

 

It is a new year

A bike ride

On Christmas Eve, I decided to explore the bike trail on the south end of Jekyll. I listened to a mixed winter flock of birds here,

I found beautiful pocket marshes.  These will be great places for nesting Clapper Rails next summer but right now it is just quiet.

 

There is an old road that is now part of the bike path that will take me over to the beach side.

What a pretty path to the beach!

 and around to the New Convention Center.


Even the trash can are nice.

 

From there I bike back to the historic District by the Golf course

At the Jekyll Club Hotel, there was a bag-piper piping. 

 

It was getting late so I continued back around to the van but I took my time. 

 Here is a beautiful Hickory tree. 

It was a perfect afternoon to explore Jekyll.

Yes, a Snowy Owl!

Finally,  I got a day off from working at the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center.  Guess what was the first thing I did?  If you guessed go out and see a Snowy Owl, you would be correct.  I have made several attempts to see this very lost bird but my timing was off.  But not today, December 19, 2012...

At first he was out on a condo where we could only see his head.  But he then he flew.  He flew right toward us and he landed on the condo.  I never get tired of looking at this species.  I have seen it in the several places.  I just never thought I would see one a couple miles from my house.  What a treat!  Keep on birding,  you never know when a bird will surprise you!