Von Wright’s Scandinavian Birds.

All of the stunning paintings in Svenska Fåglar (Swedish Birds) by the von Wright brothers (1929 folio version) are in the public domain, and free to download and use in any way you wish. This is exquisite artwork, so even if you don’t want to use it, have a wander anyway, your day will be better for it. Also in the public domain are Birds of Australia, Ornithological volume by John Gould (1804-1881), illustrated by Elizabeth Gould (1804–1841), which introduced more than 300 new birds to the world.

The Daily Bird #643.

Bullfinches from Charly: Just an illustration of how smart these birdies are. This is in my neighbour’s garden, where they were waiting for my father to go out and fill the feeder. Right after he did so and went home, they descended on it to tuck in. They learned the time when he goes to refill and come in time not to miss it. One day father only went out to check post and did not fill the feeder and the birds still went and looked if it is full. So they evidently recognize him as their personal waiter. Click for full size!

© Charly, all rights reserved.

Crow with Fish.

From Ice Swimmer: This crow was sitting in spruce tree in an island, eating a small fish (probably a perch, caught by somebody fishing on the sea ice). The crow is there in the first picture, but the branches obscure it. The bird was worried that I might take its seafood meal and flew to another tree (a deciduous one). Click for full size!

[Read more…]