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Under The Feeder
by Wilhelm J. Goebel
12¼" by 20"
Framed Size 22¼" by 30"
| A/P
Limited Edition of 56 $85.00 |
Framed in Walnut Frame with Gold Lip Shown Above $241.00 |
| Framed in Oak Frame Click Here To See Frames $241.00 |
Framed in Classic Walnut Click Here To See Larger $241.00 |
Conservation Framing
Each double mat may vary
from print to print according to which frame you choose. If you
would like to
have a particular color of mat just email sales@watsonswildlife.com to place
your order. The best matching color is used for
each individual print and is not always the color shown here.
Each
print is framed using Conservation Acid Free & Lignin Free,
Alkaline pH buffered mat board & backing.
We use non glare glass, You may call us to request regular glass if you like, Other styles of glass are available.
In conservation framing, We use
only Museum Quality materials and procedures
that will have no adverse
effects on a piece of artwork and will protect the artwork from
external damage.
Feeding birds in winter brings many hours of enjoyment to people of all ages. It is an easy way to get acquainted with nature whether one resides in an urban or a rural environment. Feeding also benefits birds and has even expanded the ranges of a few species.
Squirrels are frequent visitors and are as fond of sunflower seeds and corn as are the birds. At my station they are as welcome as the birds. I have spent many hours photographing, sketching and watching them: I could probably paint a dozen images of different species and scenes I've witnessed over the years. In this painting, I chose a typical morning as a handsome gray squirrel cautiously approaches the scattered seed under the feeder. I chose the cardinal not only for it's popularity, but also for its striking color and for the uplifting feel it gives to the scene. The juncos balance out the composition with the soft, conservative dress.
JUNCOS
RANGE: Dark-eyed Juncos breed in Alaska and
Canada and as far south as Georgia and Arizona in mountainous
regions. Dark-eyed Juncos winter throughout the U.S. and northern
Mexico.
DIET: Dark-eyed Juncos feed on insects such as caterpillars,
moths, ants, and wasps. They eat seeds from many plants,
including hemlock trees, sorrel, and thistle. At the feeder:
Juncos like millet, black-oil sunflower seed, cracked corn, and
bread crumbs. They are primarily ground feeders and readily come
to platform feeders.
HABITAT: Dark-eyed Juncos are found at the edges of woods, in old
fields, in hedges, in city parks, by roadsides, in gardens, or in
spruce or cedar tree patches.
PLUMAGE: Junco plumage coloration varies geographically; that is,
Juncos look different in various parts of the country. Juncos
along the west coast have black heads, brown backs, brown sides,
and white bellies, while those in the East have slate-gray heads,
backs, and sides along with white bellies.
LIFE SPAN: Most Dark-eyed Juncos do not survive their first year.
Many do, obviously. Some have been known to live as long as 10
years in the wild.
DID YOU KNOW? According to Project Feeder Watch data, the
Dark-eyed Junco is seen at more bird feeders across North America
than any other species.
CARDINALS
Male cardinals are famous for their brilliant red
feathers and crested heads. The beauty of female cardinals is
more subtle, yet just as special, as their feathers have a
rose-colored tinge to them.
Cardinals are southern birds, but gradually their range has
extended northward. This extension to the northern U.S. has
clearly been aided by families providing food in feeder boxes
during winter.
Cardinals are not shy about taking food from a feeder. They are
usually the first birds to feed in the morning and the last ones
to feed at dusk.
Cardinals love to sing. During midday, listen for the warm, soft
songs of the female cardinal. These songs, in turn, are repeated
more resoundingly by her mate. Sometimes you may even hear the
birds serenading each other at the same time.
At the feeder, male cardinals often fight off other birds (even
their own mates) for seed. But the possessive male cardinal will
inevitably relent and allow other birds to feed.
It is interesting that as the breeding season approaches in
March, the domineering mood of the male cardinal changes toward
its mate as far as feeding goes. In fact, you may see the male
cardinal in the late winter shuck seeds out of sunflower shells
for its mate, and then feed her as she lowers her head back to
receive the seed, much like baby birds do when they are fed by
their parents.
As for feeding strategies, cardinals prefer to be fed from
feeders that are slightly raised from the ground. They like to
have their feet on something sturdy when they eat, and they do
not like hanging feeders because of their unsteadiness.
Cardinals love sunflower seeds, especially the black, oil-type
seeds. They will sometimes scratch their way through an entire
seed mix to get every sunflower seed before eating other seeds.
Cardinals will also eat safflower seeds and white proso millet
when sunflower seeds are not available.
Cardinals do not migrate. Although they tend to wander in the
winter, seldom do they fly more than a few miles from their nest.
Since cardinals do not migrate, the planting of an inviting
landscape can attract a cardinal family to your yard for many
years.
Cardinals prefer to nest in shrubbery and low trees that face
open ground. They are attracted to landscape plants that are
useful both for food and for nesting. Such plants include
raspberry, elderberry, cherry, dogwood, hawthorn, viburnum and
sumac. They also like having a mixture of several evergreen and
deciduous trees nearby.
