American Woodcock and Mayflower

by Don Balke

Title

American Woodcock and Mayflower

Artist

Don Balke

Medium

Painting - Watercolor On Cold Press Illustration Board

Description

The American Woodcock's (Philohela minor) day is spent dozing in a well-concealed ground nest, but as the cloak of night falls over the woodland, he springs awake to hunt. In a single night the Woodcock may consume half his weight in earthworms. When full, he takes to the air for a daring performance designed to dazzle the female. If the moon is full, the Woodcock may stage an all-night show. Once the courting ritual is over, however, the male Woodcock has little to do with family life. The female lays three to four eggs with brown spots in a nest of leaves and twigs, and she continues to watch over her fluffy chicks until they can fly. When the young are grown and summer is at an end, the Woodcocks head south to their winter home.

It seems likely that the Mayflower (Epigaea repens) derives its name from the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America. After a hard winter, the Pilgrims, no doubt, came upon this delicate bloomer and named it after their ship. The Mayflower, or Trailing Arbutus, is a delightful woodland native of Canada and the northern United States. It bears trailing hairy stems, green leaves, and clusters of white or pink flowers of sweet fragrance. The plant spreads in thick mats and prefers a home beneath a pine tree. Here, fallen pine needles and leaves protect its evergreen foliage throughout the Canadian winter. One of the welcome heralds of spring, the Mayflower blossoms often appear while there is still snow on the ground.

Please note the "Fine Art America" watermark will not appear on the painting or any print reproduction.

Artwork Copyright © 1978 Wind River Studios Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the Copyright. WRSH Stock Number XB05207

Uploaded

March 21st, 2022

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