Closing out 2022 with a Saw-whet
Kelly C. Ballantyne Kelly C. Ballantyne

Closing out 2022 with a Saw-whet

With their beautiful cat-eye eyeliner and diminutive size, I don’t know how an owl could get much cuter. At just over a half a foot tall and only weighing a bit more than an American Robin, Northern Saw-whets are one of the smallest owls in North America. I’ve never seen one of these in real life, but when I actually do, I will likely trip over my own feet, drop my camera, faint, scream, or all of the above.

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Making progress with 100 birds and refreshing my process
100 birds, Illustration, Art process Kelly C. Ballantyne 100 birds, Illustration, Art process Kelly C. Ballantyne

Making progress with 100 birds and refreshing my process

While it really hasn’t felt like spring recently in Chicago, the return of Turkey Vultures is a sure sign that warmer temperatures and other neotropic migrants will be here soon. I’ve had this illustration of a TUVU soaring over the slough at LaBagh in my head for a few months now, so when I saw almost this exact image in real life on Wednesday I knew it was time to add another bird to my 100 birds series.

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