The “Aves” Collection
Aves - the class of warm-blooded vertebrates in which you find approximately 10,000 living species of birds. They range in size from the smallest bee hummingbird at 2.2 inches (5cm) to the flightless, towering ostrich at over 9 feet (2.8m). This collection seeks to honor just a few of those species, all of which can be found in my beloved home, Alaska.
Qagida
This little beauty is a Horned Puffin (Fratercula corniculata) - the “horns” above their eyes during breeding season are where they get their name!In Unangam Tunnu, the language of the indigenous People of the Aleutian islands, horned puffins or "qagida" were commonly used for clothing, regalia, and food.
Fun facts:
They carry loads of fish in their beaks back to their cliff side nests - one individual was observed carrying *65* fish at once!
During the winter, they hang out at sea! They return to the cliffs where they nest during breeding season and immediately begin their courtship rituals.
This piece was created on sustainably harvested birch bark using a variety of classic and modern embroidery techniques. I included a variety of Japanese delica beads to enhance their prominent beak and feet. The eyes of the herring are even made from vintage 1940s sequins!
Harbingers
The Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is found throughout the northern US, southern Canadian provinces and into parts of Alaska.
Thanks to its tiny body, rounded head, and charming personality, I don’t think you could find a soul that didn’t consider them "cute".
These little survivors pack away seeds to eat later in various different places - they can remember thousands of different hiding spots! Speaking of brains, in order to adapt to changes in their social hierarchy and environment they allow brain cells containing old information to die every autumn. They replace these dead cells with new neurons containing new relevant information. I dream of having such talents.
In many indigenous cultures, chickadees are said to bring success or luck, or even warn of danger and foretell the future. They are associated with truth and knowledge.
A Gift of Feathers
The common loon (Gavia immer) with her wee little downy loonlet. Every time I see them I think of cool misty mornings camping by a lake. Their breeding range is rather far north in North America, and moving even further north due to acid rain and pollution as well as heavy metal poisoning from lead fishing weights and industrial waste.
In Alaska, the populations of loons are still damaged from the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Additionally, global climate change is having a profound effect on their habitat in Alaska. As permafrost is melting, many lakes throughout the north continue to disappear. As this critical habitat dissipates, many aquatic birds that rely on it will continue to suffer. Happily, the common loon remains on the “least concern” column of the IUCN red list.
Among many indigenous cultures including the Inupiaq of Northern Alaska the loon was said to have received her white necklace of feathers as a gift for restoring the eyesight to a blind man.
The Messenger
Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus) are one of the more feisty and territorial of North American hummingbirds - commonly chasing off birds much larger than themselves.
They are one of the longest migratory birds (by size) in the world. At just over 3 inches long, they make a 3900 mile journey from Alaska to Mexico each year. With their Alaska breeding grounds, they're also the northernmost hummingbird species in the world!
In Celtic mythology hummingbirds were seen as messengers between the divine and mortal, delivering prophecies from the gods.
The Windhover
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the smallest falcon of North America. It is found almost ubiquitous across northern and Central America, though their range is declining. You can help them out by putting up next boxes!
These colorful daytime hunters eat predominately insects, small rodents and birds. Because of their heavy insect diet, they’re very sensitive to use of pesticides.
They typically like to hang out on the same perch all day while scanning for food, so if you find one chances are you’ll have a nice show for as long as you want it!
Pescadora
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is unique among North American birds of prey for its diet of entirely fish. They’re amazing anglers with a success rate up to 70%! On average, it takes them approximately 12 minutes to successfully catch a fish. If only I could be so successful.
They’re incredible distance travelers - in fact one bird was tracked from Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts all the way to French Guiana (2700 miles) in just 13 days.
They range across every continent except Antarctica and are found in nearly every climate. Look for them fishing near well stocked lakes and nesting on platforms and telephone poles!
A Glimpse of Amber
This beautiful snowy owl - "Ookpik" in Inupiaq - stares out from the snowy banks with its stunning amber eyes. Sometimes, amidst a sea of blowing white snow, the only hint of life you see are these fierce eyes gazing back at you.
This piece was the most challenging and time-consuming I've attempted thus far. I wanted to show how wildly poofy these big birds are, and I'm so pleased with the result!
