Owl sketch in Mixed Media by Meera Rao
I have not seen an Owl in our backyard but I hear its calls late at night and early mornings. Recently the app Merlin Bird ID from the The Cornell Lab added a feature to record the bird calls. The app then helps you identify the bird using its sound bank! How cool is that? That's how I learned that it is a Great Horned Owl that is in our backyard! I have been using the app on my walks(Identified Cooper's Hawk call just yesterday), in the backyard, or anywhere else I hear a bird call that I can not recognize (which is 99% of the time!)
I sketched this owl (Screech owl?) during a draw and paint along with Jack (John) Muir Laws about a month ago. His website, You Tube channel, and books are treasure troves of information on nature and nature journaling. I used pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, and my new Derwent Grahitint paint pans set. Sketching often has definitely helped me improve my 'seeing' and drawing skills.
