Summer Supplemental Report for 2020

Hi All,

Well, this year is presenting us with some difficult decisions. Since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic in March, every gathering has had the potential to contribute to the spread of this awful virus. It looks as though the virus will continue throughout this fall and winter as well. Therefore, we have decided not to have any organized groups visit the banding blind this fall. Those of us on the banding team are also going to have to take extreme measures so as to not infect each other. None of us are young anymore, and this virus has the potential to cause us serious consequences.

We also ask that, even though we are out of doors, anyone dropping in to see how we are doing or just to say hi, please wear a mask for our mutual protection. We will miss seeing all our groups of "regulars" this season, but I will continue to do weekly banding reports to keep you up to date on our activities. Hopefully, a vaccine or a cure will be available next year and we will be able to resume group visits as usual.

Trudi and I have been social distancing and staying away from highly populated areas during this epidemic, visiting with family and friends from a safe distance and wearing masks. Trudi has been doing her monthly mini sing-a-long concerts through videos on line, as we are not able to do them in person anymore at the senior homes. You can see her monthly mini concerts on her website at singalongwithtrudi.com.

Again this year in the off-season, I have been taking lots of photos and creating more digital artwork in the computer. I use only photos that I have personally taken that allow me to "paint" over them with a couple of digital paint programs. It's fun and relaxing and I don't have to buy brushes, paint, paper or canvas. If I make a mistake, I can just hit the "undo" button. It's not "Fine Art" but it is "Fun Art"!

Here are a few examples of my recent work.

1. Adult Peregrine falcon. My favorite bird at my favorite place.

2. Adult Peregrine falcon.

3. Young Peregrine falcon.

4. Young Peregrine falcon.

5. Young Peregrine falcon.

6. Adult male Merlin.

7. Young Merlin.

8. Adult male American kestrel.

9. Adult male American kestrel.

10. Adult Northern goshawk.

11. Young Northern goshawk.

12. Adult Sharp-shinned hawk.

13. Adult Red-tailed hawk in winter.

14. Young Red-tailed hawk.

15. Adult Golden eagle done in oil painting style.

16. Prairie treasures. Buffalo skull and molted Red-tailed hawk feathers.