Olwen
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Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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The facts about the bone structure in the wings fascinated me. also seeing and learning about so many different kinds of hummers, their habits, nesting style. migration also was interesting. As I have said previously, I had a hard time grasping and understanding the essence of iridescence section! However I loved the entire course and appreciate the efforts that were put into presenting it.Thank you. i shall return to the course often.
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I have seen several species of hummers, ruby- throated (at my feeders New Bern NC; Broad-billed, (my daughters' Lewis CO.);Anna's, (New Bern NC) ;Black-chinned,( Lewis CO.); Broad-tailed(Basque del Apache); Rufous (Moorehead City NC). I have visited Costa Rica but didn't know enough to ID or record..big mistake! Last year we had a hummer feeder by our front door but raccoons removed it every night! So we stopped using it.This spring, hummers returned to the front door, presumably looking for the feeder. We didn't put a feeder out. Just this week I hung a feeder under a seed feeder at the kitchen window..within one day, hummers came to that feeder. ?? Memory to return to a known location. ?? how did they discover the newest feeder so quickly??
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I was totally surprised by the fact that a hummer's bill opened so wide. I knew they ate insects and spiders but hadn't given much thought to how they did this! Also I have noticed our Ruby-throated hummers coming to the corner of the house.....spiders webs are there, didn't think about the bird actually taking insects from the web.
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I notice that certain birds that come to my feeder readily fly away if challenged by other birds, larger or even smaller. The hummingbirds as this course shows, are not easily challenged and will "fight" for the right to feed. All birds protect their young and feed them for varying lengths of time. Different species of hummers build different kinds of nests so do other birds. As with other birds some hummers migrate others are resident in the area where they were born.......Central America being the most usual areas. Question.."Do we know anything about the lifespan of a hummer?
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As part of this section I am practicing sketching using my Sibley field guide in an effort to get shape and color, also objects from around my location outdoors.
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I have enjoyed this section. I attempt the blind contour sketch and then attempt an eyes open sketch. I follow this with lots of questions and then research the answer. So far I have done the Eastern red newt and the Green-tailed sunbird. I found it very difficult to get the colors correct on the bird.
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the following to images are my attempts at improving my observations and including shading, darks and lights even a little Chiaro scauro! I'm loving the experimentation. Mosquitoes are so bad here I can't yet sit outside and look, listen and record my experiences! Coastal NC in the Fall! I'm using photos in Living bird magazine to attempt the sketches. i have brought objects indoors to work on these skills.
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I attempted a second drawing of the bird and used colored pencils for the colors. I realized I don't know how to use paint or pencils to get the right effect. I'm looking forward to those lessons. I am a good birder and know many birds by sight and sound. This course will heighten my powers of observation! I am overwhelmed by the huge number of emails responses to the topic and realize how very good many people are in sketching. Journal writing is much easier for me than drawing/sketching. Thank you everyone for your comments!
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As an 81 year old taking drawing for the first time......I enjoyed the challenge! The relative size of bird to background was hard for me. I didn't leave room for the branches and leaves behind the left of the bird! I drew a second sketch just for the leaves and noticed much more detail. The detail of lichen and moss would not have been so noticed, my attention was on the bird. However I paid more attention to the shading of the grays and blacks on the back and the shades or the oranges on the breast. The camera shows what is really there...my drawing is my perception of what is there!
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I am excited by the this course. I simply want to learn the skills needed to draw and also use watercolor paints.I did a "big sit" with 2 friends both of who drew and wrote as we all sat in silence..they could draw....I felt very limited in my drawing skills!! I am very comfortable with writing. So far I have appreciated the use of geometric shapes to get an outline for a bird. I like the box idea. Holly Faulkner's journal was amazing..did she do many quick little sketches before the beautifully painted pages? What is the purpose of a large and a small moleskin journal?
n red newt and the Green-tailed sunbird. I found it very difficult to get the colors correct on the bird. 
Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)