This painting was part of the show "Expressions: Happy Trails Community Sanctuary" which featured the land, plants and animals dependent on its preservation. The land was slated for a mega-development that would have destroyed 550 acres of animal habitat. The purpose of the show was give the animals a voice and to continue to raise awareness of the importance of saving this land from such an ill-conceived proposal.

This painting is inspired by a photo by Trileigh Tucker. (used with permission) She has a wonderful website sharing her work about the natural world   http://naturalpresencearts.com/  While bushtits are common, I did this painting because they are a bird that lives in community with other bushtits.  They are dependent on the oak forest in which they live. They flit from tree to tree catching insects and spiders.  You can learn more here: http://www.laspilitas.com/California_birds/Bushtits/Bushtits_in_your_garden.htm

and here:   https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bushtit/id  

UPDATE: The development was cancelled December 1, 2016 as the developer was not willing to sign indemnification papers for the project.