Here’s a closeup of a distant winter-bare foothills here in the Pacific Northwest, watched over by Mount Baker. These rise up over a marsh that is home to one of the most graceful raptors — a female northern harrier. She’s so calming to watch as she skims over the reeds in search of a meal. I’m using the tiniest Rosemary filbert brushes here.
Each feather has a unique and perfectly shaped design which allows for different styles of flight. Some for soaring effortlessly, others for speed. On this bird, they’ve evolved to allow for maneuverability and almost hovering in turbulent air closer to ground. Evolution went so far as to create primary feathers with a narrower, more flexible tip than the base of the feather. Why? Air pressure underneath the wing is naturally forced outwards to the wingtip, which would slow a bird down. However, when feathers bend upward it reduces the swirling drag, saving the bird energy or allowing it to fly faster with ease.
Oil & Acrylic on Panel, 2019
