Human encroachment on natural habitats is a problem that seems to get worse every day. I am part of the Artist Warriors for Wildlife Group and this this week I was saddened to hear about the plight of the White-Winged parakeets in Mantua.
2-3 years ago the “Avenida das Torres” (Avenue of the Towers) was constructed in the city of Manaus (in the Amazon) taking down many of the native trees and palms where White-winged parakeets and other birds both nested and had dormitories for sleeping. In search of new homes, the birds found a group of Imperial Palms in front of a luxury condominium complex. As the residents did not like the chattering, singing and socializing of the birds, they managed to have huge plastic nets put over the trees, imprisoning the birds and many of them died. Although official reports claim the nets were to protect the trees from the birds now, just this past Thursday, 200 of the parakeets have been found dead, most probably from poisoning, 40 birds have been collected to analyze the cause of death.
Anyway luckily there were big protests about this issue a few days ago and now the authorities have agreed to take the nets off the trees. So that is a step in the right direction.
My painting of the White-Winged Parakeets is in alcohol inks on Yupo paper....somehow I wanted to show the great colorful clouds of them in the air. I wish them all the best ......
Let us all try to respect the earth and live in harmony with nature.
We have some wild parakeets were I live, but this thanksgiving my relatives were commenting that they don't heard them as much as we did before. That made me put more attention and I notice that they seem to be less. They are noisy, but sooo beautiful. When my parents come to visit, they always are looking forward to see them and heard them. Great painting, beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteGood to draw attention to what is happening, how awful to poison and mistreat those beautiful birds. Love your painting. Valerie
ReplyDeletesuch a sad story, but love your painting. Happy PPF, Annette x
ReplyDeletehttp://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/
A sad story, but all too common these days. thanks for bringing their plight to our attention. Wonderful piece of painting.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have parakeets here, but I have lots of birds. Unfortunately, I am highly affected by the mites they leave behind in the bushes around my house. So while I think the birds are wonderful and necessary, I have to be super cautious when working outside. I have heard stories of flocks of birds dying from fright. In Arkansas a couple of years ago, someone set off firecrackers and large numbers of black birds were found lying everywhere. The authorities attributed the deaths to fear. I wonder if some of the parakeets didn't die from fright too.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. Wonderful artwork!
ReplyDeleteHugs Giggles
How sad. Anything that can be done to change things for the better of our earth and nature is a good thing. Your colorful art is striking!
ReplyDeleteLovely work, I wish them well.
ReplyDeleteHow very sad. What a wonderful painting!
ReplyDeleteArt is such a marvelous way to make people aware of issues such as this one. Happy Sunday Sketches!
ReplyDeleteSo sad at the beginning but more hopeful towards the end. We have the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) here which does so much for the birds and is a very powerful force.
ReplyDeleteYour painting is exquisite, it depicts the essence of the parakeets and is a wonderful impression of a group in the air, a remarkable achievement.
The colors capture their spirit beautifully, and this is a great way to raise awareness!
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