Monday, June 28, 2010

red knot bird


The red knot is a shore bird and makes one of the longest migrations of any other animal on the planet.
Over 9,000 miles from it's Arctic breeding grounds to Tierra del Fuego in southern South America.
Like many other migratory birds, the Gulf of Mexico is an important stop along the way.
Click HERE and you can hear it's birdsong.



11 comments:

sf said...

LOVE THIS LITTLE PAINTING!!!

Delphyne said...

Kimmie, they already have it hard here in NJ. thank you for posting about them - your painting is gorgeous, as always!

From Wiki:

Towards the end of the 19th century, large numbers of Red Knot were shot for food as they migrated through North America. More recently, the birds have become threatened as a result of extensive commercial harvesting of horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay which began in the early 1990s. Delaware Bay is a critical stopover point during spring migration; the birds refuel by eating the eggs laid by these crabs (with little else to eat in the Delaware Bay),[29] and with reduced numbers of horseshoe crabs living in the bay there are fewer eggs to feed on.[30][31][32]

In 2003, scientists projected that at their current rate of decline the American subspecies might become extinct as early as 2010. Several environmental groups have petitioned the U.S. government to list the birds as endangered,[22] but thus far their requests have been denied. In New Jersey, state and local agencies are taking steps to protect these birds by limiting horseshoe crab harvesting and restricting beach access. In Delaware, a two-year ban on the harvesting of horseshoe crabs was enacted but struck down by a judge who cited insufficient evidence that the ban would help restore the Red Knot's numbers to justify the potential disruption to the fishing industry.

ale said...

hola kimmie!!!how beautifull your red knot!!! l love to hear them !!!!!very peacfull,very beautifull!!!besos kimmie and have a beautifull week!!!!!besosss!!

From the Kitchen said...

I'm not only enjoying your beautiful artwork but am learning a lot along the way. Thank you and your commenters.

Best,
Bonnie

Elizabeth said...

I love the soft red of this painting and the angle of the bird's head.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I have learned so much just by visiting you every day. I am always delighted when I see your latest post pop up on my sidebar. This bird is so much fun and I hope it can be saved from extinction.

ELK said...

another well done shore bird ...so special

ooglebloops said...

Cool link and beautiful bird. One I haven't heard too much about. Listening to him was like being at the beach.................

Dianne said...

Love Red Knots... There plumage is rich red... beautiful....

Timaree said...

Lovely picture. Have you heard of the Ripples blog project? You can donate ATC sized pictures and the money they get from it being "sold" by a donation to a wildlife fund will help the animals. The Ripple blog is here. They have raised over $6,000 already!

Meadowlark Days said...

I saw an interesting documentary on the red knot and how its existence is dependent on the horseshoe crab not too long ago.

I am back for Tea Tuesdays, after a long absence.

I love your watercolors.