Learning about the Birds and the Bees at the James Museum

Gunnison Sage-Crouse

The James Museum of Western Art in St. Pete is now home to an interesting exhibit entitled "Rare Air: Endangered Birds, Bats, Butterflies & Bees." The show features the work of wildlife illustrator Sarah Kaizar (with text by Scott Meiser) created for a book of the same name. Kaizar's objective is to make people both notice and appreciate the amazing species at risk of extinction. 

The entire exhibit is worth spending time with, but it was the birds that won the day for me. Seriously, how could you not smile when you come upon this image of a Gunnison Sage-Crouse? As I'm sure you know, it's the male birds that have flashy appearances. (Just to drive the point home, click here to see the female of this species.) Still, these birds rely on more than their appearance to attract a mate. Click here to see the Gunnison sage-crouse at work. Whoa. The male's performance includes both a mating call (sadly, this video has no sound) and moves worthy of a dance floor. Apparently if you come upon a group of these birds mating in the same place -- known as a lek -- your ears might think you've come upon a huge pot of boiling water. Who knew?   

California Condor

The California Condor population fell to 23 birds in the 1980s, a number that qualified the species to be categorized as extinct in the wild. One of the causes of the decline was lead poisoning caused by the scavengers' consumption of ammunition fragments. Thanks to a successful captive breeding and reintroduction program, the population of these somewhat ominous looking birds now stands at 500 strong. The breed is still "critically endangered," meaning that they face a very high possibility of extinction in the wild. 

Now for some fun facts about the California Condor. It is the largest bird in North America and can have a wingspan of 10 feet. They can weigh up to 25 pounds. Just think about trying to get airborne at that size. I would like to see one of these birds taking a running start before jumping off a cliff and heading off to places unknown to search for food. Because they feed on animal carcasses, they are considered the "clean up crew" of the wild. The thought of it makes me turn up my nose, but their scavenging provides a vital service. Since carcasses can be a source of disease and contaminate the environment, they are a health risk to wildlife, lifestock and even humans. So, thanks, condors! 

Portrait of one of 250+ species of bumblebees

For a bit of variety, let's turn to the humble bumblebee. If you're like me, you flee any time a bee buzzes near you. But these insects serve an important function in our ecosystem as pollinators. "Buzz pollination" is a special skill wherein the bee takes a flower in its tiny jaws and vibrates its wings to shake pollen loose. As a bit of an aside, the "bee" portion of the expression "the birds and the bees" comes from this pollination prowess. The reference to "birds" is derived from the opportunity to give a child a little sex education when it sees a bird lay an egg. 

One reason bumblebees are important is that they can function at colder temperatures than many insects. This is because they shiver when they fly in cooler climates as a way of warming their bodies. As a result, they are able to provide their pollination services later into the fall and earlier in the spring than other pollinators. 

If this talk of bumblebees has made you think of the song "Flight of the Bumble Bee" by Rimsky-Korsakov, click here to hear floutist James Galway perform it. How could I resist?

Black Rosy Finch

I'll leave you with Kaizar's illustration of a Black Rosy Finch. It's a bird even the most dedicated bird watcher might not check off her list because they nest high above the treelines in snowy mountaintops, cliffs and rockslides in only a few Western states. As a result, they are sometimes referred to as the most mysterious bird in North America. 

Because they live in a somewhat inhospitable climate, finding food nearby is not always easy for the Black Rosy Finch. This could be problematic, especially for a parent with a baby bird at home. But the species has adapted. Black Rosy Finches have a special pouch under their mouths for storing extra food. (I call that pouch a purse.) 

And here's another fun fact. During non-breeding season, the beaks of a Black Rosy Finch are yellow; during breeding season they turn black. This change is a result of both diet and hormonal changes. It's kind of like seasonally changing your hair color. I like it. 

These are just a few of the creatures featured in "Rare Air: Endangered Birds, Bats, Butterflies and Bees." As I said at the top, it's an interesting show. One note, however. The description of the birds, etc. on the artwork is in a yellow font that's nearly impossible to read (even with the magnifying glasses offered to visitors). So be prepared to struggle on that front, which was apparently the choice of the artist rather than the Museum. The exhibit runs through September 14th. Click here for more information. And for more on artist Sarah Kaizar, click here.