Don Balke: Bristle-thighed Curlew

Artist: Don Balke
1932 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1986
Image Size: 12.625 by 10.75 inches
Overall Size: 20.875 by 19 inches
Medium: Water Color on Cold Press Illustration Board

Named for the stiff feathers on its flanks and thighs, the Bristle-thighed Curlew's nesting area remained a mystery to scientists until well into the twentieth century. A tropic dweller, found only on the Pacific islands, few people had seen young Bristle-thighed fledglings. It was discovered that this Curlew flew in reverse migration, heading north for the winter. Then in 1948, a National Geographic expedition to Alaska, led by Dr. Arthur A. Allen, discovered the first and only Bristle-thighed Curlew nest to be seen by man. Found on a barren stretch of tundra near the Arctic Circle, the mossy, dried grass nest held four brownish-green eggs. The eggs were being incubated by both adults, and the young hatched within three weeks. More developed than most chicks, the newly hatched Curlews were soon able to fly, and by the end of the season were ready to begin the migratory flight which would take them nearly six thousand miles. Before leaving Alaska, the Curlews fill up on berries, insects and seedlings for they fly non-stop to the Pacific islands. The Bristle-thighed is one of the largest Curlew, and in addition to its stiff leg feathers, this Curlew is brown and buff striped with mottled wings and tawny underbelly. On reaching their Pacific homes, the Bristle-thighed Curlew becomes a marauding thief, using its long down-curved bill to steal eggs from the nests of other birds.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® commemorative cover for the Hawaii "Shorebirds of the 50 States", cancelled August 21, 1986.

Artwork Copyright © 1986 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB10477

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