Tag Archives: Bird
Grand Canyon raven watercolor
A watercolor portrait of a raven was created during my recent hiking and painting trip to the Grand Canyon. As I took photos of a raven sitting on a fence rail, I talked to the bird, telling it I admired its glistening feathers. I think its response indicated that it wasn’t interested in conversing unless […]
Quest for the purple gallinule
Seeing the purple gallinule has been a quest of mine for some time. If you’ve not seen a gallinule, they are quite a visual treat. With their bright purple-blue, green-turquoise feathers they don’t seem real. They have bright red and yellow beaks with a turquoise head marking. Only once had I seen and photographed […]
Osprey Fishing: Bentfeather
If you have ever witnessed the beauty of an osprey fishing, then you will know it is an amazing moment when the osprey emerges from the water with a fish. The osprey circle above water looking into the depths for a fish. Once they see a fish, they dive into the water to grasp it with […]
Carving lesson with Gene Webb
My first carving lesson happened in an unexpected way. I was in Townsend, Tennessee, doing some hiking in the Smokies and had breakfast in one of the local restaurants. The server and I got into a discussion about pyrography. I had just started wood burning on my flutes, and the server told me that she […]
3 steps to start playing my WrenSong Native American-style flutes
Three steps can help you start playing one of my Native American-style flutes in just minutes. Step #1 – Adjust the bird The bird (also called the block or fetish) is an important part of the flute’s construction and not just an ornament, which is what some people think if they aren’t familiar with the […]
Join me for Gainesville Arts Market Earth Day Celebration, April 16
Join me in celebrating the beauty of nature by attending the Gainesville Arts Market Earth Day Celebration, Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. My handcrafted work showcases the many ways natural wood can be transformed into musical instruments and other items to help you enjoy a little touch of nature in your […]
Photographing Birds
Watching and photographing wading birds, songbirds, or mostly any birds is a real treat. I have been enjoying following Tootlepedal’s blog because he always takes a “flying bird of the day” photo. And that is the treat, isn’t it? To catch an in-focus flying bird — not always an easy photo. While at Sanibel Island, I […]
Sandhill Cranes Flying Overhead on a January Day
Whenever the Sandhill Cranes fly overhead, you can hear them. But you can’t always see them. This is what they sounded like on the day that I took these pictures. Since November I have been hearing the cranes with their distinctive call flying high over the yard. They circle for about 15 minutes, then head in the […]
Spider Songs — adding to the vibrations of Nature
The final stages of making Native American style flutes is to play them for some time in the backyard, to tweak tunings or settings. Birds often join me and add their songs. The Carolina Wrens especially love to sing along while the mockingbirds perch nearby to listen. Now I’ve learned that spiders are making music, […]
Cardinal Sins in Nest Building
When I came home one day, the cat was winding her way on tiptoes through a complex maze of delicate branches in a bush. This was an unusual activity for cat. The next day, we spotted the nest. A lush nest made of Spanish moss. Wise decision because Spanish moss would be like a velvet […]
Sandhill Cranes: Woodburning a Way to Remember
Although the sandhill cranes have not yet migrated to Florida, every once in a while you see a solo bird who never flew back north with the others. The solitary crane saunters on someone’s front lawn, or is standing forlornly alongside a highway. You won’t be surprised to learn, that I had to woodburn a […]
Carolina Wren Fledgling
The Carolina wren, one of my favorite birds, visits the backyard regularly. If it doesn’t show up, I entice it with a bit of flute playing in the right key – Am or Bb or high D. Within five minutes of playing, I am charmed by the Native American flute music and the wren, who […]
