Living in northern Ontario means enjoying each season to the full – there is rarely any blurring of the lines between them.

As winter relaxes its hold, longer days and the sun’s warming rays mean the return of many more subjects for painting! From our observation, first to arrive were Crows, then Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes. Then, the sky turned dark as over the horizon came flocks and flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles and Juncos, meaning only one thing at the feeders: Move over chickadees and nuthatches, you’ve got company! Robins puffed out their feathers as a late April snowstorm left a chill in the air and the ‘exotic’ call of the Northern Flickers announce their presence. Northern Harriers and Goshawks routinely peruse the still brown hayfields.

As every artist agrees, firsthand field observation is best for capturing the essence of your subject matter – and there’s no better place than at the bird’s buffet: the feeder. All it takes is some wild bird seed and a sketchpad. It’s been an avian extravaganza as we observe each species mingling with each other and with other species before breaking off into pairs for mating season.

Can’t wait for the warblers to arrive!