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Out on the Ranch

I am on the ranch in Idaho this week.  Will be posting some new artwork from my Idaho studio on the ranch. There is a lot of wildlife around.  On a quick stroll, I saw flocks of birds, antelope, and deer, along with the pet cats, dogs, horses, and the cows (all have babies right now). The sky is so big up in the mountains, the moon shines during blue skies. Mountain lupine.  This is what the Karner Blue butterflies must have to survive.  (I posted a painting of one on the blog a couple days ago.)      

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Butterflies and Robins

I painted this blue karner butterfly today (endangered in Michigan state).  They need lupine fields and there just aren't that many natural fields of it anymore. I know on the ranch the workers spray the lupine because it causes grave deformities in the calves if their mother's get into it and eat it. Can you see the robin on the neighbors garage roof?

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Birding at Fullersburg Woods Photos

I posted a video yesterday of my time at Fullersburg Woods in Oak Brook, IL.   I got a treat when I saw the rare ruby-crowned kinglet.  The male kinglet himself is not rare here this time of year.  But showing his ruby "crown" is more rare.   I also saw sparrows, warblers, thrush, northern flickers, American robins, doves, and mallard ducks. The creek was swollen with water and it was cool and calm outside.

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