#Atlantic puffin
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Petit Manan Lighthouse, Petit Manan Island, Steuben. Possibly my favorite lighthouse. In the summer, this island is home to hundreds of birds. Including Atlantic puffins, arctic, common and roseate terns, as well as black guillemots and many more. Decided I couldn't draw them all, but here's a couple attempts to try and capture the island's vibes. Can you spot the oystercatchers? MERCH
#Petit Manan#Petit Manan Island#Petit Manan Light#Petit Manan Lighthouse#Steuben#Maine#Lighthouse#light#island#Maine island#art#illustration#design#sticker#National Wildlife Refuge#Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge#Maine Coastal Islands#breeding colony#terns#tern colony#puffin#Atlantic puffin#black guillemot#sea birds#sea bird#arctic tern#flying#in flight#bird#birds
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I made a poster with a random selection of seabird courtship rituals!
how the heck did this post do so well?!? anyways as i said if it got popular i would slap it on redbubble i did that, thank you all for all the notes and comments! https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/154720777?asc=u
#art#bird#birblr#sea bird#sea birds#atlantic puffin#puffin#penguin#adelie penguin#adelie#blue footed booby#booby bird#petrel#snow petrel#albatross#waved albatross#northen gannet#gannet#great frigatebird#frigatebird#least tern#tern#my art#poster
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Puffins
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The State Birds Initiative - Introduction
Before I do ANYTHING else, and before you read anything else...let's start this with a little poll, shall we?
...Look, I'm an overly ambitious person by nature. It's a problem, I'm fully aware. So, in the midst of writing character essays, imagining my own version of the DC Cinematic Universe (I promise, I will return to the Legion of Super-Heroes series; been having writer's block, not gonna lie), and about a dozen other projects that don't include school and my job (one and the same thing, and I love both, but I'll get to that one day)...I had another thought. That I would like to present to the good people of Tumblr (and perhaps beyond).
The state birds suck.
Most people on Tumblr don't know this about me, save for a select few that no me in real life (hey guys, 'sup), but I'm an avid birdwatcher, and am currently working in ornithology as a profession and student. As such, and as a former (and future) teacher, I have a vested passion in spreading the word. And one of the first ways most of us in the United States engage with birds, other than through the world and people around us, is through our national bird and state birds. Oh, and for anybody reading this not from the USA, don't worry, national birds are included here, too.
Now, in case you don't know for whatever reason, each one of the states in the United States has a bird meant to represent the state, designated by the government and often nominated by the state's citizens. This tradition started in 1926, with Kentucky's national bird, the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Now, most states have an official state bird, although Pennsylvania technically has a state game bird, rather than a state bird. We'll get to it. But in any case, there's a bird associated with every state.
But, uh...most of them suuuuuuuuuuuck.
Now, for example, I'm not saying that the Northern Cardinal sucks. Far from it! I love cardinals, and honestly, who doesn't? They're handsome birds, they have a lot of character, they're recognizable in most states in the Union by most people. I love them! But, uh...cardinals are extremely overused as state birds. Kentucky chose them as their state bird first, and were followed by Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia. That's ridiculous. Also, wait, really, Virginia? You saw that West Virginia had it already, and STILL went for the cardinal? What the hell?
But why? Maybe there's a good reason for all of those states to choose the cardinal, after all. Obviously, it's present in all of those states, because...well, the Northern Cardinal is basically everywhere. But other than that, why? Well, let's see.
Kentucky: Unclear, but it's likely because of its prevalence, songs, and nonmigratory behavior, at least according to some sources; there isn't a lot of evidence online as to why outside of this.
Illinois: For this one, we blame the children. Yeah, kids voted this one sd the symbol, choosing it over the bluebird, meadowlark, bobwhite, and oriole, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. So, yeah, probably because it's familiar and red.
Indiana: For...reasons. Yeah, even less is known about this choice. Safe to assume, though, that it's because it's familiar and red.
Ohio: Apparently, this is because it's red and has a cheerful song. 'Kay. Again, not a lot of evidence for this one, but we'll go with it.
North Carolina: This one also came down to public vote, after a campaign initiated by the North Carolina Bird Club in 1943. It won over the red-winged blackbird, wild turkey, scarlet tanager, and gray catbird. Apparently, this was the second attempt at a state bird, as the Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) had been chosen ten years earlier, but only retained the position for a week because the bird's other name is, and this is true, the tomtit. And that was apparently too lewd for the title of state bird. Jesus. We'll get back to that when I address North Carolina officially.
West Virginia: Again, chosen and voted by schoolchildren, and chosen because it's familiar, red, and has a cheerful song. 'Kay.
Virginia: No idea. Also, don't listen to the sites that say their bird "exemplifies the quality of the state" unless they have the GODDAMN PAPERWORK to back that shit up. If I had to guess, it's possibly because the northern cardinal is one of the first birds seen in the state by settlers to the continental USA, who landed in...Virginia. So, the state's got a historical connection to the cardinal, meaning that the last state to ratify it as a state bird is the one to make the most sense to do so.
So, yeah...only one of those makes sense to me. Otherwise, it just feels...random. And by the way, many of the state birds do make some sense. Utah's choice, the California Gull (Larus californicus), has roots in a Mormon miracle, which makes perfect sense for the Mormon state. Louisiana's Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is an iconic species to the American southeast, and a massive proportion of the species breeds in the state. Same goes for the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus), the state bird of Oklahoma. Iconic and unique grassland bird, and it breeds within the state in high quantities for the global population.
But others? Why does New York (a state I grew up in and around) have the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) for its state bird? Because it's blue and nice-looking? Why exactly do Wyoming, Oregon, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, and North Dakota ALL have the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)? I love the song too, and it's an iconic grassland species, but really? All of you? And Maine? Maine...Maine. I mean, you didn't even go for a specific species and just listed "chickadee" as your state bird. Why? There is a MUCH. BETTER. OPTION. OBVIOUSLY. But...I digress.
...FUCK IT
WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH IS MAINE'S STATE BIRD NOT THE ATLANTIC PUFFIN (Fratercula arctica)??? ANSWER ME MAINE GODDAMMIT
Seriously, what the hell? It's the only state IN THE UNION where the Atlantic puffin breeds, and it's an incredibly iconic bird! I mean, look at that thing! They're adorable, fish-eating, clumsy-flying, feathery orbs with a Froot Loops beak (for part of the year), complete with their own fucking cereal that I ate constantly as a child. And their babies are called pufflings! PUFFLINGS!!! DO YOU HEAR ME MAINE WHAT THE FU
...OK. OK. I'm good. Look, this genuinely irritates the SHIT out of me, both as a hobbyist and as a professional. There are near 1,000 bird species that can be found in the United States, and the state birds are, honestly, some basic-ass choices that doesn't BEGIN to explore the incredible diversity of this taxon. And honestly, maybe if we changed up the state birds, we could increase awareness for these animals and their conservation stories and needs. There are so many missed opportunities here for us as educators, birders, ornithologists, backyard birdwatchers, and even Birdblr, to educate those around us who aren't as ornithologically-inclined. Imagine being able to convince a friend to go find the state bird on a trip some weekend. It could be a fun activity, and a fun way to get into birdwatching and the natural world! IT'S GOT POTENTIAL!!!
And look, I realize I'm not alone on this front. Various people have proposed changing up the state birds, including some more powerful professionals than I. If you haven't seen it yet, check out this essay series from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that came out last year, which asks whether or not eBird could be used to identify better candidates for state birds. And I'll be using it for what's coming next. Because here's the thing. I'm tired of ranting alone in the dark towards nobody while my fiancee is trying to sleep about this. I need to rant to you poor people instead. And what's more...I want people to rant with me. If they want to. So...
TO ME, BIRDBLR!!! LEND ME YOUR BINOCULARS!!!
I propose an initiative to create a new list of state birds for the United States of America. And I'm talkin' EVERY state, baby! Even the ones that have fitting birds, as mentioned above. We live in a GODDAMN DEMOCRACY, and I say that we put this to a vote. So, Imma make a series of polls, one for each state. And yeah, that's 50 polls. Each will have a selection of birds, including the current state bird for that state, and I'll present the options in each case. The rules and selection criteria for the birds I'll present are as follows:
The bird has to be wild and breed in the state in question. No migrants, to accidentals, no introduced species (looking at you, South Dakota), no domestic species (looking at you, Rhode Island and Delaware). They're from the state, they breed there, and they're wild. Don't have to be endemic to the state, but they need to be found there, at bare goddamn minimum.
No repeats! Every state will have a different species! No more repeats. If there are any ties for states to get a given bird, another set of polls will be made at the end to determine which state will get that bird, and the second highest bird will claim the spot for that state. I'll try to avoid that for each state, but we'll see how things go.
There has to be a reason for their selection. For each of the birds presented for each state, I'll make a solid argument for their nomination. This also goes for any birds submitted to me for suggestions (and yes, I mean to say y'all can make suggestions if you want to for each state). If you have a bird you think would be good for a state, especially if it's your state, please give me a reason. Not that it's pretty, not that you like it's song, not that it "represents the spirit of the state's people" for no easily defined reason. GIVE ME A REASON
And for now, that's it! And hell, if this gets popular or demanded (and I'm saying this if, like, 30 people pay attention to this post), I'll also do the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories. And hell (again), I'll even consider doing other countries if that gets demanded, definitely starting with Canada and seeing how things go from there. And finally...if people want it, maybe even the Bald Eagle (Halieetus leucocephalus) will go up for debate as the USA's national bird. Although, not gonna lie, I think that we're stuck with that one. Still, there are other questions that can be brought up if this gets popular enough. For now, though, let's focus on one thing at a time.
So, hopefully you answered the poll at the top, because I am curious as to what you think about your state bird. And just to set this up, the first state on the chopping block is Delaware, which has one of the most offensive state birds, in my opinion. Because seriously. What the fuck, Delaware? What the fuck.
See you soon, hopefully! And happy birding!
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Introduction to the State Birds Initiative
1. Delaware - Poll | Results 2. Pennsylvania - Poll | Results 3. New Jersey - Poll | Results 4. Georgia - Poll | Results 5. Connecticut - Poll | Results 6. Massachusetts - Poll | Results (upcoming)
#birds#birdblr#birblr#borbs#blorbs#state birds#state bird#united states of america#USA#america#democracy#polls#bird polls#bird#birding#birdwatching#ornithology#birders#black birder#animals#nature#conservation#northern cardinal#bald eagle#chicken#delaware blue hen#scissor-tailed flycatcher#atlantic puffin
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Dinovember day 24: Atlantic Puffin.
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Atlantic Puffin
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Atlantic Puffin
By Antonella Papa, Rome, Italy
World’s Top Wildlife Photographers of 2023
Curated by One Eyeland
#antonella papa#photographer#rome#italy#atlantic puffin#puffin#bird photography#world's top wildlife photographers of 2023#one eyeland#nature
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61. Atlantic Puffin
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Remember to read about the contestants before voting!
Kiwi
Ah, the Kiwi. Yet again another flightless bird from New Zealand, who is still recovering from the introduction of predators to its homeland. They are the smallest living ratites (which includes emus and cassowaries), and true to their name they are New Zealand's response to the lack of rats on the island. This niche was filled in by the kiwi. They are nocturnal and lay very large eggs compared to their body size. Learn More!
Atlantic Puffin
These lovely little bright beaked birds are real charmers. With their faces that always seem to be smiling and they clank their little bills together with their mates. They carry a large amount of fish in their mouths, and nest on large islands with little predators although the skua will still attack the puffins. Although there are still a large number of them, the puffin is considered vulnerable due to high density population loss. Learn More!
(Kiwi photo by Edward Smith)
(Atlantic Puffin photo by Dorian Anderson)
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Puffins on a string
Mykines, Faroe Islands
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#AtlanticPuffin
An official pair of Atlantic Puffin encounters while visiting some friends at New Brunswick, Canada.
#Atlantic Puffin#Macareux Moine#Waterfowl Bird#IUCN#International Union for Conservation of Nature#Wildlife Need Protection#Ornithology#Nature Photography#Wild Bird Photography#Wildlife Photography#Bird Watching#Bird life#Mountainous Parts of the Northern Hemisphere#Canada#The RavenKeeper#birds#bird photography#Birders
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Puffin, Moon Snail & Chickadee
#illustration#jada fitch#bird#nature#design#wildlife#logo#graphic#shell#seashell#moon snail#moonsnail#black capped chickadee#atlantic puffin#graphic design#swimming puffin#art#black#logo design#maine#icon
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Carrying a feather - northern Iceland, 2020
#picofthenight#travel#iceland#original photographers#photographers on tumblr#nature#birds#nature photography#atlantic puffin
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A Water Bird Feathursday
This week we present more waterfowl from our 1948 publication Birds of the British Isles with text and wood engravings by British author and wood engraver Eric Fitch Daglish (1892-1966), published in London by J. M. Dent & Sons in a limited edition of 1500 copies. Shown here from top to bottom are:
European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Great Snipe (Gallinago media)
Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)
Mallard or Wild Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Birds of the British Isles is a donation from our friend, Wisconsin wood engraver Tony Drehfal.
View more posts from this volume.
View more Feathursday posts.
#Feathursday#Birds of the British Isles#Eric Fitch Daglish#J. M. Dent & Sons#wood engravings#Herring Gull#gulls#Great Snipe#snipes#Mallards#Barnacle Goose#geese#Atlantic Puffin#puffins#birds#birbs!
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Atlantic Puffin
#art#my art#my art i guess#digital art#my artwork#digital illustration#nature#digital painting#digital drawing#illustration#illustration art#animal art#wildlife art#animal illustration#animal artwork#medibang#medibang paint#medibang art#medibang paint pro#character design#character art#character illustration#ocean animals#storybook art#puffin#atlantic puffin#bird art#puffin illustration
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Finally finished drawing this damn puffin painting! I’m not overly happy with the background but tbf I’m not very experienced with drawing that sort of thing. It looks more like a Joy Ang background than something even moderately photorealistic, but whatever. I’m still proud of myself for painting the bird :>
No stealing, monetising or using without creds please, but feel free to use it as a personal background/banner/pfp if you so desire ^^
#art#artists on tumblr#atlantic puffin#atlantic puffin painting#birds#bird painting#puffin painting#birblr#digital art#digital painting
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