Another in my "Finer Feathered Friends" series

Final size: 72" wide

Portrait of a Cinereous Vulture

Another in my ongoing series of "Finer Feathered Friends"
This fellow , also known as the Black Vulture or Monk Vulture is the largest bird of prey in the world.

The real story of how legwarmers came to be invented

Rumor has it that back in 1981, a certain peacock farmer in Montezuma, Kansas had grown quite upset after his continuing efforts to breed a peacock with more plumage on its lower extremities failed. (He was frequently overheard saying "All I want is just one stinkin' bird with nicer gams.") He then begged the women of his rural town to knit brightly colored tubes for his flock to match his assortment of Buford Bronze, Spalding Purple and India Blue peafowl. The women agreed for they were all tired of pettipoint and quilting and he had promised them that each would have a chick named after her. The women set to work knitting pair after pair that were loose enough so as to fit over the peacocks and peahen's oversized talons. With nothing to hold them up, they ended up all slouchy.

It was then that a very enterprising local aerobics instructor happened to drive by the farm and over a bit of chicken coop wiring (that said farmer  had angrily thrown into the road) leaving her with a flat tire and several hours to wait for her cousin to come with the towtruck. Soon after a fad was born.

Little known fact: If you play the soundtrack to Flashdance backwards, you'll very clearly hear the sound of happy peacocks.

Who knew?

A new Long-Tailed Hornbill Portrait (plus a few recent ones)

I am totally fascinated by this fellow (at least I hope it's a fellow because if its a girl, she is destined to stay single for all eternity)

This is a West African Long-Tailed (or White Crested) Hornbill.
They are only about 18" tall with a 42" long tail but their countenance is remarkable and has surely inspired many a horror story. For me they are clearly inspiring although I wish I could get at least one of them to smile for the camera or at least look a touch happier. Oh well... at least they don't try to peck my eyes out like they used to.

Perfectly poised Peacock with plumage proudly pointed posing

So here's what you do: find a beautiful background with lots of color and plop yourself down on the ground hoping that an equally beautiful and colorful bird parades along. If you dream enough, one will eventually come true. 

And then if you're really lucky, the perfectly pedigreed peacock will want to be your pet.

Finer feathered friends

A series of tests for a large scale project I'm working on.