SUNRISE CRANES
7’ X 9”4”
watercolor, pastels, and ink on collaged Stonehenge paper.
Image by R. Wells.
I became interested in the Sandhill Cranes’ story after reading Aldo Leopold’s On the Call of the Sandhill Crane.
“When we hear his call, we hear no mere bird. We hear the trumpet in the orchestra of evolution. He is the symbol of our untamable past, of that incredible sweep of millennia which underlies and conditions the daily affairs of birds and men.”
TWILIGHT’S VEIL
7” X 9”4”
watercolor, pastels, ink on collaged Stonehenge paper.
Image by R. Wells
These are the first two pieces in a series of four that explore the migration of Sandhill cranes. These pieces celebrate one of the GREAT SUCCESS stories in ecological restoration. In the early 1900s, relentless hunting pushed Sandhill cranes to the brink of extinction.
However, since the mid-1960s, these majestic birds have experienced a remarkable population rebound, thanks to dedicated efforts in wetland restoration and habitat protection initiated by hunters. Today, Sandhill cranes stand proud as the most plentiful crane species in the world, a testament to the power of collective restoration efforts. As we move forward, humanity's ability to unite in collective action holds the promise of redefining the Anthropocene.
Imagine a future where Homo sapiens emerge as a keystone species, supporting not just economic systems, but enhancing the rich tapestry of other species and ecosystems. Exciting times are ahead as we embark on this transformative journey! The power of collective action.