Sunday, January 08, 2012

Nuthatches

In my back yard is an old weathered tree branch.  For some reason, the branch grew in a circular formation. Birds, especially the smaller ones like chickadees and these red-breasted nuthatches love to perch on it. It's full of cracks and crannies that are perfect for hiding seeds and other treasures in.
Nuthatches are distinctive because of the way they perch upside down on the trees, and run down the trunk rather than up it. That way they can find insects in the cracks that the right-side up birds miss.  (That's the definition of "win-win situation" in the bird world.)  They are very lively, friendly little birds who aren't afraid of people or cats.
Watercolor in Moleskine sketchbook.