Atlantic Puffins (Draw a Bird Day)
Atlantic Puffins are seabirds that breed in large colonies on cliffs or offshore islands along the North Atlantic coast of both Europe and America. When not breeding, they spend most of their time on the ocean.
Each time I look for information about the birds I draw, I find declining numbers, even if they are not yet endangered. Habitat destruction. Declining food sources. Overhunting.
Puffins are no exception. How to reverse these trends?
Crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning or end. No magic formula to suddenly turn things around.
It’s a process. No moment exists when the fragility and interdependence of ecosystems reaches perfect balance, when humans can relax and ignore the repercussions of our behavior. We must remain always aware, always learning, always willing to make necessary changes to insure continuity. To keep the circle connected and alive.
I challenged myself to see if I could take Merril’s quote from Jo Harjo and do a prosery for dVerse. It actually fit the theme of Draw a Bird Day quite well.
“Crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning or end.”
Here’s some information about Atlantic Puffins:
–Their wings become flippers underwater. They are excellent divers and can reach depths of 200 feet.
–The hinges on their beak allow them to carry several fish at once.
–They have been observed using sticks as tools.
–Their nicknames are sea parrot or clown of the sea. Puffin chicks are called pufflings.
–Puffin colonies are referred to as a burrow, a circus, or an improbability.
–Puffins mate for life and often return to the same nest or burrow. They lay a single egg which both parents brood for several months.
–They spend the winter on the open ocean, rarely returning to land.
Such delightful drawings to illustrate some hard truths. For how long can we look the other way?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not much longer. Thanks Ingrid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Puffins are, as you captured so well in your art, quite cute 🙂
❤
David
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks David. They are very appealing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are SUCH a talent, in both mediums. Yes. ‘Keeping the circle connected and alive.’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Helen.
LikeLike
This is a lovely bird. Is it done on blue paper or did you paint the background? N.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Blue paper. Thanks Nina.
LikeLike
I like how you combined the two prompts and also shared information on their nature. I particularly like that last drawing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Jade. It amazes me that they can spend a large part of their lives away from land. And I hope at some point humans will realize how much each different species contributes to the functioning of the planet.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are welcome and yes it is amazing. I think some sea mammals are the same way, coming to land only to breed and going back out there. I hope the same for humans, that they can wake up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We can only keep doing our part to make it happen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Beautifully done K, all the drawings are bewitching. Fine drawings! One other good thing is that you learned a lot about them in the course of going around The research factor is also invoked.
Hank
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Hank. I always enjoy learning new things about birds, as well as drawing them.
LikeLike
We have some at a local zoo. I could sit and watch them for hours!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I would love to see them in the wild! Perhaps someday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never seen one in the wild but hope to some day, and you are spot on about how we need to do better for Mother Earth and her inhabitants!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Carol, I would like to see them in the wild too. I hope we can modify our behavior and save both birds, and all plants and animals. We need them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked the drawings, information provided at the end and also the hard hitting truth. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Kitty. Birds are one of my favorite things to draw.
LikeLike
This is wonderful, Kerfe. I love how you worked in the line while giving us information about puffins. Your drawings are terrific. They are not only adorable, but also amazing birds.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Merril. I agree on both points. They were the models for Star Wars porgs, I just discovered. It makes total sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll have to look up Star Wars porgs. 😏
LikeLiked by 1 person
My younger daughter loves Star Wars, so I have my own porg(s). But then I seem to have a lot of her old toys as well (she says as she unpacks another box). I remember I did a drawing and a post years ago about the furbys she was throwing out that I decided to keep. I still like them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We still have lots of our kids toys and books packed up in the attic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I gave a lot of it away. But it’s hard to let go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“No moment exists when the fragility and interdependence of ecosystems reaches perfect balance, when humans can relax and ignore the repercussions of our behavior.”
Exactly!
And I enjoyed the notes. (and, the art, of course!)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Ken. I always enjoy my research for draw a bird day. But it is disconcerting how humans have impacted the lives of all birds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great job 😍😍
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks!
LikeLike
I have seen puffins on Iceland, and they are wonderful… it’s amazing that you can actually eat puffin (and whale) at restaurants in Reykjavik (but not for me)
LikeLiked by 3 people
I read about that…not for me either!
LikeLike
So Love These Little Birds , Seen Them In Iceland As Well, Bjorn I would love to follow your blog not sure how to do as I’m new to WordPress
LikeLike
Bjorn is not on WordPress, but you can find his blog by going to dversepoets.com.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How do you post on dverse poets ??
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s a Mr linky link at the bottom of the prompt post. Read the post and it will give more detailed directions.
LikeLike
This is exquisitely drawn! 💝 I resonate with; “We must remain always aware, always learning, always willing to make necessary changes to insure continuity.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Sanaa. We must.
LikeLike
So Beautiful … My Favourite Bird Is The Puffin …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your name gives you away! thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really like the almost abstract style of your puffin drawings, as well as how much research you have put into the article. Great work! Hope it’s ok to share a link to a simple ‘How to draw wings tutorial.’ It seemed fitting!
https://artworldblog.com/2021/06/09/how-to-draw-angels-wings/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I’m not necessarily trying for realism in my drawings, but for those who are, a tutorial would help I’m sure.
LikeLike