CaseyG Draws

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Catching up all of #inktoberendangered 

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The past few days of #inktoberendangered

Full write ups on all here: https://caseyg.com/blog/

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They still need a lot of help to not go extinct. 2018 almost saw them disappear from the wild. 

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/is-this-the-year-the-florida-grasshopper-sparrow-goes-extinct/

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California Tiger Salamander 

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Kirtland’s Warbler, after support from the ESA they are almost off the Endangered Species List! Let’s keep it going!

Day 3 of Inktober

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Atlantic Sturgeon, calling on a need to protect our water ways.

Audubon Petition to support water ways.

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Dusky Gopher Frog for day one of Inktober

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I want to bring attention to the Endangered Species Act. It is a 45 year old law that is being called into question and is being changed by the current federal legislators. Some changes have occurred through the House Committee of Natural Resources. Then the Supreme Court will hear a case beginning October 1st which, will set precedent for what kind of reach the ESA has to protect land for endangered animals. We need to be paying attention and getting involved, these will have lasting effects.

To bring attention and start discussion I plan to spend Inktober, a drawing exercise started by Jake Parker, drawing some of the lesser known and under loved species that find themselves on the Endangered Species Act. I know it seems hard to imagine saving some of these species but, each does play a role in the cycle of their environments and I believe it is best if we can find a way to help them survive.

I would love it if more artists participate to help bring the awareness. This is definitely a problem that needs more minds on it; I think in the end the answer for the ESA and our planet's species is going to come from a community push of citizen scientists, which can be anyone!

Reshare if you want to participate and get more people involved! Thank you for your support. 

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The California Thrasher. This is one cool looking bird. They are rarely visible but, have their regular locations and if you go to those places and wait or arrive early enough in the morning, you will see these birds. There is one on the relatively busy road I travel on everyday that I see on occasion. I saw him this morning and heard him yesterday. The call of the California Thrasher is reminiscent of the Mocking bird but, more burbly and always the same.

The Thrasher in the drawing is from Edgewood Park. The chaparral there is a constant location for them. This one was signing loudly in the willows just before the trail led into the wooded area.

I love every time I get to see one of these birds.

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Sharp-shinned Hawk progress video and final. Saw this bird yesterday while it dropped in take off from a tree. 

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The Wilson’s Warbler. These little birds just migrated into the area. I had my first chance to look for them Sunday. (this is part of why there was no drawing yesterday, I also got very distracted by a lost exotic bird in the neighborhood)

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These warblers are kind to your neck. They are ground birds, nesting on the ground or up to 5 feet off the ground. So, no looking straight up into the trees to spot and id them. The last time I was in this location there was one of these birds, this time I couldn’t stop hearing them. It was great. One more bird call learned.

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I have been trying to see the local Harlequin Duck for a while. There are only one or two that come to the Bay Area in winter and that isn’t necessarily every year. I wasn’t sure I would make it given that we are closing in on Spring and he hangs out far enough away from shore you really need a scope to find him. I managed to spot him by sitting down getting comfortable and zooming my camera into the cement break water barrier at the harbor then slowly going back and forth looking for it. One day I will get a scope. For a lot of birds, especially sea birds, you really need a scope. They will almost never be within binocular distance.

Harlequin Ducks are arctic birds spending their time in Canada for breeding and summer. They winter along the north shores of North America. Their choice habitat is wave crashed rocks. Their food source is best found in these locations.

The audio recording allaboutbirds.org has of Harlequin Ducks sounds like a litter of puppies! I hope I get to see another of these birds with better views so I can see more of its behaviors.

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Now another two duck species that are hard to tell apart! The Barrow’s Goldeneye and the Common Goldeneye.

The big difference, the tear drop facial spot vs the circular facial spot and the overall head shape for males. Then between females their beaks are slightly different colors, the Barrow’s is more yellow and smaller, then the Common has a mostly black beak.

Here are one of each species swimming together. They are both males.

Barrow’s aren’t going to be seen nearly as often as a Common. The Common are widespread across the North American continent whereas the Barrow’s are limited along both coasts only north of San Francisco Bay Area and north of New York, then interspersed through the Rockies.

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Female Common Goldeneye swimming off Coyote Point

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Beautiful Female Mallard

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The Scaup! 

This bird is difficult to identify against the Lesser Scaup. They both have generally the same coloring and patterns. The differences are slight and take training your eye to see them easily. When I first encountered Scaup, I called my Mom who knows ducks because I was exasperated. She sent me a brochure that explains all of the differences. 

Generally, the Lesser Scaup’s head has a purple shine when it catches the sun and the Greater Scaup has a green shine. The Greater Scaup has a more rounded head, where the Lesser has almost a crest, giving it a pointy head. Their body has a greyish top and white bottom half, on the Greater Scaup this is more defined and the white is whiter. Another helper is Lesser Scaup are more often on fresh water vs salt water but, this can easily fail to be a true signifier as they can be on either kind of water. 

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International Women’s Day!

Women are amazing, I watch them everyday manage jobs, children, playdates, classes, travel, commute, food management, everything. They inspire me and help me to become a better person along the way.

I wanted to represent as many of them as I could but, so far I am only happy with this drawing. It just means more to come later!

This woman, I consider a dear friend. She is a force and heart of my community. She manages so much and helps so many people everyday. Watching what she accomplishes and how she talks about it helps me keep everything in perspective. She is so smart and thoughtful about how to approach problems big and small. Thank you for being you, a strong and powerful woman. @javaminx (on instagram)

(check out this article about women who draw in the Bay Area from KQED too: https://www.kqed.org/arts/13826528/directory-of-female-illustrators-puts-thousands-of-options-before-editors-eyes)