By Jim Sorensen
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19 September 2023 Baby Birds in Shoes Group
18 September 2023 English Pouter Pigeon in School Shoes. For some reason when I saw it the first thought was to draw it as an English school boy. It’s the tallest breed of fancy pigeons with some of the biggest ones being 16 inches in height. Although there are all kinds of Pouters with different distinct physical shapes and markings, they all share the common trait of being able to inflate their crop and how they strut around in their school shoes
17 September 2023 The 2023 Calendar Art
11 September 2023 Great Eared Nightjar in Pink Low Tops. This was a request from Elecia White. I found it interesting that it nests on the ground but is a fantastic flier, and spends a good amount of time in the air. In fact, it eats flying – it catches and eats insects on the wing – and even drinks flying by scooping up water from the surface of lakes and rivers. They only tend to wear shoes while nesting on the ground for obvious reasons.
22 August 2023 Juvenile Steller’s Jay in Suede Loafers. We’ve had many Steller’s Jays visiting our yard lately. At first we thought their mouths were open to say “Feed me” but found out that’s how they regulate their internal temperature during these hot days. Birds don’t have sweat glands, so opening their beak allows for heat to escape from the body. So much for believing we were their surrogate parents. The inspiration for this one we call Junior. He stood out from the rest because of his Rockabilly footwear.
15 August 2023 Baby bunny. We have lots of bunnies running around our neighborhood and a little neighbor boy asked me to draw a baby bunny for him. Serendipitously a baby bunny has been hanging around our yard this week for inspiration
05 August 2023 Barred Rock Hen in High Tops. This was a request by Heather Benjamin. The hens name is Margaret. She spends her days free ranging on their property in Oregon. Heathers daughter is turning 15 soon and this is her favorite hen and her favorite shoes are black high tops. Heather’s excited to surprise her! A special thanks to my niece Haley’s best friend Emma for being the shoe model.
30 July 2023 Belted Kingfisher in High Tops. This was a request on Instagram from the individuals working at getting the Belted Kingfisher to be the official mascot for the University of Illinois. So far it’s passed the campus and faculty vote because of the birds uniqueness and the school colors being blue and orange. She would be stepping into the shoes of the former mascot that was retired nearly 17 years ago
13 July 2023 Baby Chick with Propeller Hat and Rainbow Shoes. I drew this for my little 7 month old granddaughter Camden. I’m sure I’m bias but I think she’s the cutest little girl ever.
5 July 2023 Crow with False Teeth in Engineer Boots. This was inspired by a picture of a crow stealing false teeth posted in the Birds in Shoes group awhile ago. The boots are a nod to my childhood in the 50s. I mostly like it because it makes me laugh.
30 June 2023 Spooks the bunny in Flemish Walkers. This was a special request from Joni Holmes. She saw the scrimshaw bunny I did and asked if I would draw Spooks for her. He is a Flemish giant and French lop mix. She said he’s an amazing rabbit who is super smart and very personable. He is her best friend and says he rescued her 4 years ago. I love his blue and brown eyes, they really compliment his favorite shoes.
22 June 2023 Royal Flycatcher in Medieval Shoes. These tiny Amazonian birds use their brilliant, colorful plumage as a show of display during courtship rituals, after mating, while preening, in competition with other mates over breeding or territory, or while being handled. So I guess basically a lot of the time.
16 June 2023 Ruff in Mickey Mouse Shoes. The male has a breeding plumage that includes head tufts that I think look like Mickey Mouse ears which explains the shoes. I also like his nubby yellow orange facial skin and his large collar of ornamental feathers that inspired this bird's English name.
05 June, 2023 Stanley the Rhinoceros Hornbill in Cowboy Boots. I was inspired to draw Stanley after seeing a post of him from the Nashville Zoo. They were kind enough to send me several photos of him. The boots are a nod on the little known history of the impact rhinoceros hornbills had on the old west.
25 May 2023 Spotted Skunk in Gymnastic Shoes. This was a special request from Michele Therien. I’ve never drawn a skunk but I was fascinated by her request for a spotted skunks. Like all skunks, they produce a nasty-smelling spray, however, spotted skunks also do a flashy handstand on their front legs as an extra warning in order to appear larger and to display their markings to warn predators before they spray. They’ve been called the acrobats of the skunk world.
11 May 2023 Cock of the Rock on a Rock in Low Tops. True to its name, they frequent rocky cliffs and ravines where they build their nests.
26 April 2023 Muscovy Duck in Rainbow Sandals. This was a request by Jessi and Samantha Allen for her pet Muscovy, Jerry. I found it interesting that they don’t quack, they hiss. Jerry is not as warty as most Muscovy and has more fashion sense.
30 March 2023 Canadian Goose in Hightops. I drew this for all my Canadian friends. We used to live on a lake that had many Canadian geese visitors. They were beautiful birds but I was constantly amazed by how big their poop was.
8 March 2023 Spinosaurus with Alto Sax. This was a special request from my good friend Jen Hamelman for her saxophone playing nephew who just turned 16. Not a bird in shoes, just a barefoot distant cousin.
February 14, 2023 Great Horned Owl in High Tops
January 28, 2023 Scarlet Macaw in Hiking Shoes. This was a special request by a member of the Birds in shoes group to celebrate her sister and husbands 50th wedding anniversary. Their family is celebrating with a trip to Costa Rica. The hiking shoes symbolize the many trails they have hiked all around the world.
December 30, 2022 Phoenix in Flame Sneakers. I thought the phoenix was a good symbol for us as we move into the new year. Many of us have had some very challenging years and this mythical bird symbolizes new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor.
December 26, 2022 Magpie in Bavarian Shoes. This was a special request by Chris Reeves for his wife to remember their time stationed in Germany. The magpie was one of the first birds they encountered on their ride to their new home. It was such a striking bird. The shoes are a classic Bavarian shoe to remember their travels throughout Germany and into Bavaria. The Edelweiss is to remember their holidays in Southern Germany.
December 10, 2022 Bird Bunny in Buckle Shoes. I did this to enter an Instagram competition by #evaboneva. I used the body of a brown thrasher. It was fun blending the bunny with the bird. Luckily brown thrashers are known for hanging out with bunnies.
December 02, 2022 Andy N Condor in Chukka Boots. He lives in the Tracy Aviary. Helen Dishaw is his caretaker who takes him for his daily walks. She’s been taking care of Andy for the last ten years and she says the walks are good for him. At 61, Andy’s been around for a long time and he’s been at the aviary almost all his life. Helen says condors usually don’t live as long in the wild like they do in captivity. From the time he first hatched until now, Andy has grown into his tremendous wingspan, spanning nine feet.
November 18, 2022 Broad Breasted White Turkey in 18th Century High Heels. This is the most common breed of turkey. What makes this bird unique is it’s choice of vintage footwear.
October 16, 2022 Vinnie the Coyote Slayer in Work Boots. This was a request by Mari Quimbo Lalana. Vinnie is a leghorn silky mix. He’s a brave little rooster who took on a coyote to save his nine ladies. The boots are a nod to Mari’s farm helper. He has handled Vinnie since he was born but for some reason Vinnie needs to attack his boots every day.
October 03, 2022 Happy Halloween Month. My newest, Crow Skeleton in High Tops. I thought a crow skeleton was appropriate for Halloween. The high tops were his idea.
September 9, 2022 Mockingbird in Mary Janes. This was a special request for Jennifer Olin for her sister Catherine. Cat introduced Jennifer to my Birds in Shoes. Cat loves all animals and tolerates people. She has always worn Mary Jane’s by choice and when she was asked what bird she would want if I were to draw her one it was the mockingbird, probably the most common bird seen all over Texas for a most uncommon woman.
August 20, 2022 Ameraucana Rooster in Cross Band Slippers. This was a special request from Gabriela Cox for Ninji. She says not a day goes by since he died that she doesn’t miss him intensely. He was the first chick she hatched. Every day, he would run to her and jump into her lap, talking quietly about his day as she held him and stroked him. He never complained when she called him "chickie", because he was secure in his role of rooster and protector. She knows for a fact that he would agree to be portrayed wearing fuzzy blue slippers just to make her smile. □
August 5, 2022 Flamingo in No-tie Low Tops. This was a request by a Birds in Shoes member. The word ‘flamingo’ comes from the Latin and Spanish for ‘fire’ referring of course to both their bright pink feathers and their taste in athletic forward. It was interesting to learn that the backward bending knee of a flamingo isn’t a knee at all, it’s actually its ankle. Its knee is much higher and hidden in its feathers.
July 17, 2022 Nightingale in Clogs. This was a request by a nurse in my Birds in Shoes group. She loves being an OR nurse and is very proud of her OR peeps and all nurses out there. I put this bluethroat nightingale in her favorite cap and clogs. This is a nod to Florence Nightingale and her Environmental Theory which revolutionized nursing by establishing sanitary working environments for patients and nurses and is the baseline for every operating room.
June 29th, 2022 My Cockatoo in Clown Shoes. I decided to rework and add a crest to my original drawing after meeting a very pretty little Goffin's cockatoo called Peach when I was delivering my drawings to the Scarlet Ibis gallery for my show next month. The shoes are a nod to Goffin's being called the clowns of the cockatoo world.
June 10, 2022 Saffron Toucanet in Huaraches. They are known in Portuguese as "Araçari-banana," or Banana Toucanet. They are found in the Atlantic forest in far north-eastern Argentina, south-eastern Brazil, and eastern Paraguay. I liked their distinctive red rump. The colorful huaraches are just their fashion statement.
May 27, 2022 Scarlet Ibis in Dangerous Shoes. I’m doing my very first gallery show at the Scarlet Ibis Gallery in Seattle starting in July. I decided to do a scarlet ibis for the show. I asked the owner what kind of shoes she’d recommend. She suggested dangerous ones. The mohawk was my idea.
May 13, 2022 Starling in Work Boots. This was a special request from Joseph Masibay for his girlfriend Tara. She works for the tv/movie industry. She paints sets, ages sets and makes things look old and weathered. The hat was a gift from him and her shoes get covered with primer, plaster and a variety of paint colors. The starling speckling fits nicely with the hat and shoes.
May 05, 2022 Great Eared Nightjar in Bunny Slippers. This was a special request by Joni Holmes. This was to honor her two departed rescues, her dog Ghost and her gray bunny Yahtzee. They were best friends. She called Ghost, Toothless after the dragon in the How to train your dragon movie. That dragon looked a lot like a nightjar.
April, 08, 2022 Small Pratincole in Low Tops. They are also called little pratincole or small Indian pratincole. They are waders that resemble a combination of a dove, a swallow, and a plover. Their flight is agile and erratic, resembling a bat or swallow; frequently flies in flocks at dusk which is why they often wear brightly colored shoes in order to stand out.
March 15, 2022 Pigeon in Chelsea Boots. I’ve had many requests to draw a pigeon. Two resent requests moved it up to the top of my to do list. Sara Janoff that loves her pet pigeon, Pickles and Jaqueline Albin, a New Yorker that has a family of pigeon that have lived on her balcony for generations now. She has named them all Kevin.
March 1, 2022 My neighbor John suggested I do a birds in shoes drawing to honor the Ukrainian people. I greatly admire the courage it’s taking for them to stand up to the Russian military onslaught. I posted a white stork, their National bird I’d drawn years ago wearing wingtips in my Birds in Shoes group this morning. There were suggestions that I put him in combat boots, which made sense but after debating with myself for awhile, I decided on sneakers that I found on the Internet that were of the Ukrainian flag. I am a combat veteran. I’ve seen the horrors of war up close and the sooner those brave people (many of them are not military trained) can get back to sneakers and back to picking up the pieces after this horrific act of aggression the better.
February 21, 2022 Pink Robin in Marabou Slippers. The pink robin is a small tubby Australian bird, and is easily over-looked, being quieter than other robins which they make up for by wearing brightly colored slippers.
February 08, 2022 Crow in Yeezy slides. Crows are extremely intelligent birds. Crows are known for their amazing communication skills. For example, when a crow encounters a mean human or a cool pair of shoes, it will teach other crows how to identify them.
January 29, 2022 Xenops in Buckle Boots. I found it interesting that the bills of the xenops look as if they have been put on upside down. I found out about them because I was looking for a bird that started with an X for my Birds in Shoes alphabet book. I’m glad they were so pretty and interesting.
January 11, 2021 Zebra Finch in Canvas Sneakers. Zebra finches are highly gregarious and social. Pairs that have not yet laid their eggs sometimes elect to court and mate in special "courting trees" before joining the flock. In the afternoon, most pairs engage in social activities, which often take place at "social trees". Years ago we had some and I remember that when we played certain songs they would start chattering which sounded a lot like “Change the channel, change the channel” and as soon as we did they would calm right down.
December 24, 2021 Laughing Dove in Vintage Snow Boots. I picked a laughing dove to symbolize two things I want for all of us this holiday season. Laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in our body. Laughter strengthens our immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects us from the damaging effects of stress. Plus I think we need more peace within ourselves and in the world around us. I’m seeing way too much anger, conflict and divisiveness these days. So wishing everyone a peaceful and laugh filled holiday.
December 11, 2021 Penguin Chick in BILLY Shoes. I was moved and inspired by a segment on Evening Magazine about BILLY Footwear. I reached out to Billy Price and asked if I could draw a bird wearing one of his shoes. He accepted and his 3 year old son picked the baby penguin. Billy broke his neck from a three-story fall in October of 1996, becoming paralyzed from the chest down and lost the ability to move much of his body, including his fingers. Not only did he suddenly face mobility challenges, but daily tasks that he took for granted, such as putting on clothes, became much more difficult. Throughout the years he learned tricks for getting dressed more easily. But the one piece of clothing that always eluded him was shoes—he never found a pair of shoes that he felt were both attractive and that he could put on independently.
Between Billy’s propensity for problem-solving and his co-founder Darin’s spark for business innovation, they created Billy Footwear. The shoes incorporate a zipper that go along the outside and around the toe, allowing the upper of each shoe to open and fold over completely. Thus the wearer can place his or her foot onto the footbed unobstructed. Then with a tug on the zipper-pull the shoe closes and secures overtop the user's foot. What a wonderful solution for those with mobility issues.
November 24 2021 Scrub Turkey in Red Boots. They are also called a gweela or Australian bush turkey. This was inspired by Pat Maxten. She has a scrub turkey she calls Terrence that comes into her backyard every day for a drink from her bird bath. I loved finding out that after the females lay their eggs the males work hard to drive away predators such as lace monitors, dingoes, snakes, feral pigs and dogs that are after the eggs by flinging leaf litter at them. They then peck at their tails as they run away.
November 12, 2021 Nanday Conure in Air Jordans. This was a special order by Kiri Yashida. His name is Tyler Lockett and she describes him as the sweetest, cuddliest little man and that he loves to dance with her. Kiri is a fellow veteran and she belong to a group that dresses up as super heroes and raise money for pediatric charities. Her group visits sick kids in hospitals and work a lot of events like that. https://m.facebook.com/CC4Causes/ She’s a bird lover, veteran and volunteers to help sick kids, what an incredible combination, Tyler is lucky boy.
November 3, 2021 Rooster in Toddler Sneakers This was a special request by Kris Lowery. She said her Mom lights up whenever she watches a video of a rooster wearing sneakers. She said it may be because she was raised around chickens in Louisiana as a child. I found it interesting that chickens are a domesticated subspecies of the red junglefowl originally from Southeastern Asia. I used the coloring of the junglefowl for this drawing.
October 24, 2021 UK Robin Dad and Baby Chick in Tennis Shoes. This was a special request from a good friend (originally from the UK) for her nephew Robin for his birthday. Robin is about to welcome his first child due in the same month as his birthday. In my research it showed that the baby UK robin's feathers are partially blue, which reminded My friend of Robbie's wife who has Ethiopia ancestry where many birds have blue plumage. This is for Robbie and Lydia and their new chick.
October 5, 2021 Gloster Canary in Beatle Boots. The Gloster is known to have a beautiful song. With their beautiful song and their crest that looks like the Beatle haircuts of my youth I couldn’t help putting him in a pair if Beatle boots. Their song and their cute-looking crest has caused them to become very popular, just like the Beatles.
September 25, 2021 Galah in Doc Martens. This is a special request from Katelyn Brew. His name is SEJ after the three vets who saved his life. SEJ is a rescue. He lost his right wing in 2009 and his right foot in 2019. Given his tendency to bite everyone except Katelyn, his nickname became Satan.
September 16, 2021 Little Spiderhunter in Terrarium High Heels. They have a buzzy zick-zick call that is made regularly when disturbed or when foraging. This bird and their song are seen as a good omen by the Kayan, Kenyah and Punan people. Not to be confused with the click, click of their spider filled high heels on pavement.
August 28, 2021 Crow in Mismatched Chucks. This was a special request from a woman in my birds in shoes Facebook group. She owns a coffeeshop. One of her dear regulars used to carry peanuts for the crows. He also used to wear mismatched shoes, most notably, one red and one blue one.
August 08, 2021 Pelican chick in rain boots. Baby pelicans are rarely seen. This is because pelicans nest far away in inland or remote locations in large breeding colonies. A group of pelicans can be called many things including a "brief", "pod", "pouch", "scoop" or "squadron" of pelicans. I’ve heard they hide their chicks away so their colorful boots won’t attract predators.
July 25, 2021 Turkey Poult in Moccasins. A baby turkey is called a poult or a chick. A male turkey is a tom, a female is a hen, and a band of turkeys is a flock. Hens don’t feed their young for very long. Poults learn quickly how to take care of themselves. They eat seeds, berries and insects; moccasins help them sneak up on wary insects.
July 15, 2021` Cardinal Youngster in Buckle Shoes. Baby Northern Cardinals will be tan like their Mothers. The males will get their red feathers as they grow into adults. The babies are born from white eggs with brown spots. The female will lay between one and five eggs with a typical clutch having three eggs. As you can see this little one is very proud of her Christmas socks.
June 16, 2021 Flaminglet in Mary Janes sneakers. Newly-hatched chicks (flaminglets, by the way not every source agrees to call them this) have gray or white down feathers, a straight red or pink bill, and plump red or pink legs. Chicks gather in large groups called creches (French for "crib"). Parents are able to locate their own chicks in the creche at feeding time by sight and vocalizations. They will feed no other chick. Parents keep a close, protective watch on their chick as it explores its habitat.
June 05, 2021 Shoebill Chick in Work Boots. Shoebill babies are quite wobbly on their feet because their beaks are so heavy they have a hard time walking or even standing until they are several weeks old. Work boots are recommended for stability and balance.
May 29, 2021 Spectacled Owl Chick in Low Tops. This was a request from a member of my Birds in Shoes Facebook group because the Ohio School of Falconry just got a baby Spectacled owl - his name is Edison. He is a South American Spectacled Owl that is part of the educational flock of Ambassador Birds at the school. He was named by the Director’s daughter
May 22, 2021 My Roadrunner in running shoes This was a special request by A member of my Facebook group Birds in shoes. She asked me to replace the roadrunner I drew in cowboy boots with one in pink running shoes for a gift for her daughter.
May 21, 2021 My newest, Purple Swamphen Chick in Leg Warmers These babies live in large extended family groups, whereas most birds live in pairs with only the current season’s chicks. The mothers lay an average of 5 eggs and share the responsibilities of sitting on the eggs, feeding the young and chasing away predators. They have such incredible feet I just couldn’t add shoes. Also, If you’re wondering if they really have purple toenails, they don’t, it’s just artistic license.
May 14, 2021 Baby Parrot in Toddler Shoes. I love how innocent baby birds look. Baby parrots look for a Mom or Dad right away. Imprinting is a psychological terminology that describes the process by which a baby starts to recognize its parents. Birds normally accept the first moving thing or animal that they see as their parent. If a human being is the one feeding these birds, they will accept him or her as their parent.
May 07, 2021 Hoopoe in Tasseled Loafers. Hoopoes name comes from their distinctive whooping cry. This was a suggestion from my friend Ken Bolte for a friend of his. The hoopoes have some strange amorous antics during their unusually long breeding season, males adopt a variety of strategies to woo potential mates, including seductive serenades and mid-flight beak jousts. After mating the females will paint their eggs with a brownish goo, in a bid for greater male attention. The pigment they use is made in-house—a brown, oily substance secreted by the uropygial gland, located at the base of the female’s tail. Not to leave out the kids from strange behavior, within days of emerging, nestlings learn to defend themselves by hoisting their butts skyward and squirting poop at potential intruders.
May 04, 2021 Budgie in blue 2-toned wingtips. The budgie, or budgerigar, is most commonly referred to as the more generic term “parakeet” in the United States. The species name undulatus in Latin means, roughly, “song bird with wavy lines,” which is a pretty good description of this popular bird. The wild budgie is similar to to the ones we see as pets but smaller, only 6 to 7 inches long and rarely if ever wears shoes.
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01 September 2023 Maverick the Canada Goose. This was a request by Meg Lunnum. She is a volunteer at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue in Indian Trail, North Carolina. This rescue takes in all types of animals but especially birds and waterfowl. Maverick was part of a trio with two domestic geese, Forest and Jenny. Sadly, Maverick passed away a few weeks ago. Carolina Waterfowl Rescue and all the people that are associated with it do amazing work. This drawing is to thank them for all they do for animals who need care. His helmet is a nod to his namesake from the Top Gun movie.
10 August 2023 Temminck’s Tragopan in Victorian Button Boots. The male's display features include bare blue facial skin, inflatable blue lappet and horns. I decided that he’s fancy enough to pull off the boots.
25 July 2023 Red-legged Seriema in Go Go Boots, also known as the crested cariama and crested seriema. They feed on a variety of small animals and is one of the few birds that will kill and eat venomous coral snakes. Farmers often use them as guard animals to protect poultry from predators and sometimes even human intruders. They tend to only wear their go go boots to go out at night after a hard work day on the farm.
10 June 2023 Toucan in Flip Flops. This is a special request by Julie Dees. Her son passed away 6 years ago and he will always be remembered for wearing flip flops year round, even in winter blizzards. When her and her daughter were trying to think of a bird that would represent him, a toucan came to mind. They are planning on printing it on t-shirts to wear when they run in the OKC Memorial Half Marathon.
03 May 2023 Snow owl in Lumber Jill Boots. White owls are often associated with good fortune. Its white color represents illumination and hope. If you spot a white owl, you will be instantly filled with the confidence necessary to overcome any of life's difficulties. Even better if they’re wearing red plaid.
17 April 2023 Inaccessible Island Rail in Sandals This was a request by Lynn Richardson, the winner of the drawing for one of my drawings. She picked this very rare small bird which only lives in the Inaccessible Island in the Tristan Archipelago in the isolated South Atlantic. She picked Keen sandals, her favorite shoes.
16 March 2023 Green Plover in Jig Shoes. I did this for Saint Patrick’s Day because it’s the National bird of Ireland. They are also called northern lapwing and peewit. I picked green plover because I liked saying green plover doing the jig in green clover.
27 February 2023 Blue Throated Macaw in Short Boots. I drew this for Dorothy Paterson, the executive director of the Bird Endowment www.birdendowment.org. They are raising funds to save the critically endangered blue throated macaw. Which includes the Nido Adoptivo supplemental nest box project. Since this impactful project was started by her late sister in 2007 with partner Armonía in Bolivia, an incredible 113 blue throated macaws chicks have fledged from the boxes. With current population estimates of 400–450 blue throated macaws in the wild, this number of fledges is truly significant – about 25% of the wild population, and increasing!
February 12, 2023 Great Horned Owl in Swim Cap and High Tops. This was a special request for my niece Rachel for her niece Samantha. Her dream was to be part of the Rice University swim team which will come true this fall. The team mascot is Sammy the owl so this is a Sam for Sam.
January 13, 2023 Roller Derby Owl. This was a request by Leanne Draper for her roller derby club in Leeds UK. She said her team is like an extended family because they are really inclusive and supportive of one another. Their mascot is an owl and I could hear our neighborhood owls hooting while I was drawing it. Very cool.
December 20, 2022 Black Rock Chicken in Adam’s Shoes. This was a request from Ashley Gioia for her son Adam. Charlotte is Adams chicken, and the two of them are inseparable. Adam has cared for her since she joined his backyard farm in New Hampshire. She is in a pair of Adams most favorite comfy shoes, because who doesn’t love comfy shoes?!
December 13, 2022 Stork in Running Shoes. This was a special drawing to me to celebrate the birth of my Granddaughter Camden.
December 07, 2022 Colly Bird in Christmas Boots. Older versions of the 12 days of Christmas song used the word "colly" instead of "calling." An outdated word that has its roots in the words "coal" and "coaly," this original word would suggest that, rather than songbirds, the fourth verse of the song refers to some sort of blackbird, "coaly" refers to something that is coal black in color.
November 22, 2022 Silkie in High Heels. The Silkie is a breed of chicken named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk and satin. The breed has several other unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot plus an attraction to high heels.
November 10, 2022 Owly The Fluffy Faced Disabled Chicken in Ballet Shoes. This was a special request from Yelisia Nicole. She rescued this Easter Egger when she was 8wks old so she wouldn't be euthanized. She hatched with a slipped tendon and curled foot and no one wanted her. She’s now her ESA/Medical Alert Animal. Yelisia has al lotof health issues and Owly taught herself medical alerts to tell her when to take medication or call for help. She said she probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for Owly. The lace is a chicken diaper (that she makes and sells). Owly now has her own Facebook page.
October 28, 2022 Tufted Coquette Hummingbird in Tie Dye Boots. Known for its exquisite brightly colored plumage set off by its pale rump band and flashy footwear. He feeds on nectar and is most likely to be seen at flowering trees, where it forages by sneaking nectar from the territories of other hummingbirds.
October 9, 2022 Oxpecker in low tops. Red-billed oxpeckers are often found hitchhiking on rhino’s backs, feasting on ticks or other parasites from the Rhino’s hide. New research revealed that the oxpecker has a very important job. The loud oxpeckers often serve as an alarm, alerting rhinos of any potential human threats. Rhinos can barely see anything but the oxpecker has a sharp vision and as soon as it senses danger, it gives out a loud shout, alarming the rhino. Rhinos without oxpeckers on their back were able to detect approaching people just 23 percent of the time whereas rhinos with oxpeckers detected them every single time.
September 9, 2022 Cotton the Rooster in Tie Dye Crocs. This was a request by Joni Holmes for Cotton’s housemate Carrie. For Carrie it was love at first sight. Even though he was dirty when she got him he looked beautiful to her. She bathed and dried him the next day and he was a perfect little cotton ball. That’s how he got his name…Cotton. He’s lives in the house with her and four dogs. He sleeps on his very own pillow on her bed. He even has his own chair. He loves to snuggle and has a huge and unique personality. She says he makes a bad day good and a good day better.
August 27, 2022 Patagonian Conure in Combat Boots. This was a special request from Cassandra Ellsworth-Gross for her sassy, hard playing boy Sammy. She rescued him after he was abandoned in the apartment of some evicted tenants in 2003. He loves big noisy bells and toys and plays like a feathered cat. He shrieks with glee when rolled around as "burrito bird" in a toweI but is a total cuddle monger. Sammy has been a plucker most of his 28 years and is receiving Onsior shots for Avian Ganglianeuritis. I love that she picked the same boots I was issued on my way to Vietnam 52 years ago.
August 10, 2022 Goldfinch in Birkenstocks. This was a special request from Carol Hutchinson for her friend Birdie (Roberta). Birdie raised six kids and was a special sweet soul. Carol only ever remembers her in Birkenstocks. The tiara is because she was the Homecoming Queen in Granite Falls Washington but she always laughed at being Queen. She believed she wasn’t the glamorous type but she bubbled inside with warmth and goodness.
July 29, 2022 iNhlekabafazi in Hiking Boots. This was a special request from Donna Rice. Last year she went with six women best friends/birders to Kruger National Park. For part of it, they did a wilderness hike and the Ranger called them the iNhlekabafazi (pronounced in schlock a baaa fazzi) which is a Zulu term meaning the raucous laughter of women (and their name for the green wood hoopoe because of their call). One of the things that kept cracking them up is one member kept dropping her lens cap so that was added.
July 21, 2022 , Scrub Jay in Saddle Shoes. A Pacific Northwest Birding member posted that she googled her resident scrub jays early one morning before she was quite awake and misread that they had white underpants instead of white underparts. I thought it was so funny I had to draw this one
July 6, 2022 Kookaburra in Australian Work Boots. This was a request from Kate Shorney. Their name comes their loud, distinctive laughing sounding call. Their call is recognized by many because it’s been widely used as a sound effect in Australian bush and jungle movies. My biggest challenge in drawing this was that I had a hard time getting the kookaburra song out of my head.
June 17, 2022 Indigo Crow in Victorian Shoes. This was a special request from the Birds in Shoes Facebook group for her Indigo Crow Boutique in Liberty Texas. I love crows and I got to draw pearls for the first time.
June 03, 2022 Takahe in Gumboots. This was a special request from Carol Bates. She is a volunteer bird guide on Tiritiri Matangi Island. She wanted me to draw it to help her promote the takahe for bird of the year in New Zealand. Takahe are on the endangered list and have specialised breeding programmes governed by Dept of Conservation. She said they are like a big blue chunky chicken. Gumboots are iconic to New Zealand.
May 20, 2022 Gray Dove in Short Cowgirl Boots. This was a request by my niece Tina. She loves doves. She says their song pulls at her heart strings. She thought it would be fun to dress the dove in purple cowgirl garb. She picked the hummingbird charm to honor her Grandma, my Mom ❤️
May 07, 2022 Myna in Flip Flops. My favorite bird to watch in Hawaii is the myna. I love how they hop and strut around. I thought an interesting thing about them is they were introduced to Hawaiʻi from india in 1865 to control army worms. They like flip flops because they don’t like the feel of worms on their toes.
April 17, 2022 Pistachio in Retro Pumps. This beautiful Congo gray parrot lived with a member of my Birds in Shoes group for a rich full life of 24 years. First as her Mother's companion & then as a comfort to her when she lost her mother. I was asked to draw him by her close friend in a pair of pumps that she owns in miniature. His red tail feather sits in this shoe as a reminder after Pistachio helped her heal a shocking experience years ago.
April 01, 2022 Octopus wearing a Dive Computer. I received a special request from a Birds in Shoes group fan. She’s a diver and asked me if I would draw a Giant Pacific Octopus wearing a dive computer. Since octopi have beaks I decided to do it. I may do another with shoes. We’ll see.
March 3, 2022 Jabiru Stork in Mexican Pointy Boots. The inspiration for this was my fascination with Mexican pointy boots. They became popular when a Texas DJ featured them in a music video that's been viewed more than 50 million times. So I needed a bird with long legs and the jabiru is the tallest bird in Mexico and Central America. The jabiru has even been know to wander into Texas sporting pointy boots.
February 27, 2022 Hoopoe on Roller Skates. The hoopoe’s crest lies backwards when the bird is resting, however, if alarmed or excited, which often happens when roller skating, the crest opens up and displays a beautiful circular shape.
February 13, 2022 Turkey Vulture in Princess Shoes. This is in honor of group member Lynne Weber that passed away recently. This is of Princess Remi which Lynne described as the bird of her heart.
The West Sound wildlife shelter in Bainbridge Island, Washington got her as a young bird, broken wing partially healed.
Lynne even trained her to be on her arm as she couldn't be returned to the wild. She became a favorite of school kids and adults alike.
February 03, 2022 Western Tanager in Mule Sneakers. It’s an American songbird that is part of the cardinal family. The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family. Song birds or perching birds often prefer mule shoes because they provide room for its independent, flexible perching toes, especially the one that points backwards.
February 08, 2022 Short-eared Owl in Dr. Martens. Easier to see than most owls, the Short-ear lives in open terrain, such as prairies and marshes. It is often active during daylight, especially in the evening. When hunting it flies low over the fields, with buoyant, floppy wingbeats, looking rather like a giant moth. In courtship, male spirals up into the air, hovers while giving series of short rapid hoots, then dives, clapping the wings together loudly under its body.
January 20, 2022 My newest, Nuthatch in Brogue Mary Janes. Their habit of wedging a large food item in a crevice and then hacking at it with their strong bills gives this group its English name. This is a white-breasted nuthatch known for its blue-gray back and white breast while often sporting matching shoes.
January 07, 2022 Tawny Owl in Dance Shoes. This was inspired by a post by the Owl Sanctuary based in the UK in Cumbria, The owl’s name is Ludo. She has a brain issue that makes her hold her head up side down. She has a wonderful life and is spoiled rotten. We picked gold and jeweled dance shoes because Ludo likes watching a local TV dance show called Strictly Come Dancing.
December 30, 2021 New Years Baby Parrot
I decided to dress up my Parrot Baby in Toddler Shoes to be the mascot for 2022. I picked a parrot because they are considered to be a symbol of love, loyalty, longevity and good luck. I hope all of you have an amazing 2022.
December 21, 2021 White-winged Crossbill in Birkenstocks. One of the main birds connected with the Solstice. They spend most of their time prying into spruce cones with their twisted bills. Flocks work around treetops animatedly, hanging upside down like parrots, challenging others that come too close, then abruptly flying off to the next tree. The hat was inspired by the popular posts of chickens wearing knit hats. Wool socks are a popular choice for them in colder weather.
December 02, 2021 2 Ringneck Parrots in Chucks. This was special request by Lauren Graham, an Australian nurse. She calls them her children. She describes them as Marshmallow: a vicious cereal eating derp who lives for walnuts. Currently planning the worlds cutest genocide. And Wheaton: a snuggly weirdo who flirts obsessively with phone screens. Currently planning ways to hide from bedtime.
November 17, 2021 Juvenile Green Heron in Camo Sneakers. This was a special request by bird lover Jan Allen who thinks baby green herons are quirky, whimsical, and adorable....kind of like a Dr. Suess character. Green herons are one of the few species of bird known to use tools. In particular, they commonly use bread crusts, insects, or other items as bait. The bait is dropped onto the surface of a body of water in order to lure fish. When a fish takes the bait, the green heron will then grab and eat the fish. The camo shoes are so they won’t be spotted by fish
October 30, 2021 Rook in Skeleton Sneakers. There is much folklore surrounding rooks, lots of it not so good, however, I’m going with the one that says well-established rookeries are deemed to bring good fortune. I say if you’re going to believe in superstitions, believe the good ones.
October 1, 2021 Goffins Cockatoo in Clown Shoes. This was a special request by Joshua Lamb. The Goffin is also called a tanimbar corella or the blushing cockatoo. This handsome boy is called Bubba. The shoes are a nod to Goffins being called the clowns of the cockatoo world.
September 09, 2021 Hyacinth Macaw in Brazilian High Tops. This was a request by Michelle Carollo. This piece was made for a very special blue guy named Nigel. The Hyacinth Macaw although the largest Macaw can be one of the most sensitive and comical of the macaws. Known sometimes as a gentle giant. As a Brazilian he can clearly pull off these High tops.
August 21, 2021 Indian Runner Duck in Wedgies. These friendly birds stand erect like penguins and rather than waddling, they run. As they run or walk they often drop their eggs wherever they happen to be, So I thought they would be a perfect fit for April/Easter in the Birds in shoes calendar. Wouldn’t it be great if they would color the eggs before they drop them.
August 14, 2021 A Murder of Baby Crows Nesting in a Boot. In many areas, crows start nest building as snow begins to melt. When the fledglings start to leave the nest they tend to stay in trees and don't stray far at first. They make clamorous “begging” calls to their parents and older helpers. After a few weeks, the fledglings will follow their parents. A group of crows are called a murder but because they are so darn cute I’m sure the charge will be reduced to justifiable homicide.
August 04,2021 Lovebird Chick in Heart Buckle Shoes. Lovebirds are often associated with Valentine’s Day. According to medieval tradition, February 14 marks the beginning of mating season for birds. Lovebirds were said to choose their mates on that very day, thus making them a favorite symbol for Valentine’s Day. Other reasons are they mate for life, pine for each other when separated , feed each other and it’s even been said the highlight in their eyes resembles a heart.
July 11, 2021 Pigeon Squeaker in high heels. Baby pigeons are called squeakers or squabs. When I looked up baby pigeons I was struck by how goofy cute they are and I thought they look a bit like Woodstock from the Peanuts comics. We rarely see baby pigeons because their nests tend to be out of view, on rooftops and other skyscraping venues such as bridges and the sides of high-rises; pigeons spend a longer time as nestlings than other birds; Because of this they are often seen wearing their parents shoes until they are old enough to leave the nest.
July 5, 2021 Ostrich Chick in Chelsea Boots. After about 40 days new chicks hatch, all feathered and ready to walk! Within days, they leave the nest to follow their parents, who protect them from the hot sun or rain by keeping them huddled under their body or outstretched wings. By the time the young ostriches are 18 months old, they are fully grown and have become record-breaking birds, just like their parents. Pretty impressive.
June 29, 2021 Eaglet in Stars and Stripes Shoes. They are born light gray then turn brown with dark brown eyes. When they are four to five years old, they develop their normal white heads and tails and yellow eyes. Until then they supplement there drab brown coloring by wearing brightly colored shoes as a fashion accessory. I also thought having him standing spread eagled was appropriate.
June 23, 2021 Falcon in Flight Boots. Peregrine falcons have wings, eyes, and nostrils built for their signature high-speed dives from above, They are like feathered fighter jets. Their notched beak and sharp claws complete their raptor credentials. I decided to show him soaring to celebrate the July 4th holiday.
May 24, 2021 Yellow parakeet in sneakers. This was a special request by Abrahim Memo. His 8 year old son has 4 parakeets and 2 cockatiels. Recently one of his favorite parakeets died for an unknown reason. He said his son liked my birds in shoes and would be very happy to see his bird wearing shoes. His birds name was Lemon Drop. When I looked up yellow parakeets I liked learning that a yellow bird symbolizes joy and a positive outlook on life.
April 03, 2021 Dodo in High Tops. The dodo is an extinct flightless bird. Their closest living relatives are from the subfamily Raphinae of pigeons and doves. It has also been suggested that the name was an approximation of the bird's call, a two-note pigeon-like sound resembling "doo-doo". One was at the feeder yesterday. They’re bigger than I thought, over 3 feet tall.
Mar 4, 2021 Sandhill cranes in Sandals. These majestic birds mate for life and their little ones are called colts. The name of this bird refers to habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills on the American Plains. This is the most important stopover area for them. I spent a lot of time as a kid playing on and around the Platte river so I really liked hearing that.
Feb 23, 2021 My newest; an Ocellated turkey in Latin Dance Shoes. A relative of the North American wild turkey from south of the border. I’m fascinated by its colorful warts and feathers. The male is quite the song and dance man. He starts singing just before sunrise and he starts his mating dance by tapping his feet against the ground in rapid succession. Next, he move his tail feathers from side to side while quickly vibrating his wings and dragging the tips of them against the ground. As he does this dance, he makes sure the dorsal surface of his tail feathers are constantly in view of the female. I’ll bet it’s quite something to see.
Feb 19, 2021 Timneh Grey Parrot in Spats. I drew this for Greywood Manor, a small family business located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. They carry all natural artisan products for animals. His parrot Dexter (the model) was the reason he got into parrot nutrition and started his journey into aviculture. Making sure Dexter had the best quality of life was the reason Greywood Manor was founded. They’ve made t-shirts and mugs of my drawing; Here is a direct link
https://www.greywoodmanor.com/t-shirts.
April 29, 2021 Bald Eagle in Western Fire Boots. This was a request from Carrie Lively. Her dad had been battling cancer and recently passed. She said he was a typical old cowboy, very much the John Wayne/Clint Eastwood type, he was stoic, tough and stubborn but underneath he was the most loving, loyal, generous, chivalrous and good natured man. He refused to wear his slippers or anything besides his boots, a pair of well worn western lace up fire boots, even when the process of bending over to put them on and take them off was beyond his physical ability, he would still insist on wearing those boots. Whenever she was sitting with him while he was receiving his chemo infusion or waiting in the doctors office she would always show him the latest “birds in shoes” piece, even through the pain of his illness and attempting to maintain his crack proof exterior, she said my birds made him smile. He also loved American Bald Eagles, he had quite the collection of eagle statues and figures, he admired the raw power and quiet dignity they embody.
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March 10, 2021 Cooper’s Hawk in Firefighter Boots. I was inspired by group member Lynn Ellis Spicer’s story about her Dad that recently passed. Ed was a bird lover. One hawk in particular that he enjoyed spotting was a Cooper’s hawk. The boots were to honor his 44 years in service as a firefighter for his Oregon community, the last four as Fire Chief. On top of that one started visiting my yard a couple of weeks ago. I was intrigued when I did my research on these birds, people either seem to love or hate them. I read descriptions from bold, majestic and agile to noxious tyrant and avian outlaw. At the very least not a boring bird.
My Victorian crowned pigeon. This beautiful bird is easily recognized by its red eyes, the unique crests on its head and a row of wing feathers with white and maroon tips that I think look a lot like fingers. Its name commemorates the British monarch Queen Victoria which was probably as a result of the gold crown on its very regal head.
Scissor tail flycatcher in shrimper boots. . I was inspired by a story by a member of the Birds in shoes Facebook group. Her grandad worked as a commercial shrimp buyer for over 40 years. Hence the white shrimper boots. At the end of winter her granddad and her would sit and watch for birds in the pond in their back yard. There was an old sunken row boat in the pond with just the back tip showing. They would wait to spot a scissor tail there. He told her that meanit the end of winter was near and spring was coming which by the way is my favorite time of the year.
My newest; a Pale Blue Flycatcher reclined in high heels. They are usually found sitting still on a branch in the middle levels of dense forests. What attracted me to draw it was it’s nest. It looked like a comfortable place to lean back and prop up your feet after a hard day of flying around foraging for insects.
Feb 14, 2021 This a special order for Valentine’s Day for a Birds in shoes Facebook group member’s boy friend that loves great blue herons and wanted to know if I could put leather Vans on him. So I took his galoshes off (I drew one in the past with galoshes) and added the sneakers. I have one that visits my small pond every year and eats most of my gold fish.
April 04,2021 Cockatiel in Suede Sneakers. They are very sociable birds and will become unhappy if they are left alone for long periods of time. In the wild the male cockatiel use sounds to attract females, so in general are better at talking and whistling. Some are so talented that they can learn an entire song. Male cockatiels also make good fathers! While the mothers are responsible for hatching the eggs and caring for the newborn chicks, the male cockatiel doesn’t fly off and abandon them, either. In fact, they are quite protective of their family, and in the wild, will face much larger birds and predators just to keep them safe. They are also nurturing and affectionate with their young
Rooster in US Flag boots. This was inspired by a post by someone in my Birds in shoes Facebook group. She was about to put her beloved rooster Einstein down and wanted something to remember him by. I added the boots because I thought he’d look good in them.
My newest; a Rosefinch in pink boots. This was inspired by a post by Rose Younkins and moved to the top of my to do list by my wife.
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March 19, 2021 Burrowing Owl in Crocs. This was a special request by member Gail Anderson. She lives in Cape Coral, Florida where they’re known for their Burrowing Owl population and have a festival honoring them every year about this time. The festival is a way to raise money for the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife. She helps them count burrows and owls every year to make sure the numbers aren't dwindling. They are protected there and if there is a burrow on an empty lot it can't be built on until after mating/owlet season. The sad part is that there's so much building going on there that they're even asking people to put burrows in their own yards (I wish I could have one in my yard) There are charities to help: CCFW and the Cape Coral Wildlife Trust, both for this very worthwhile cause
March 24, 2012 Bluebird in Ladybug Shoes. Bluebirds are the symbols of spring, happiness, love, and hope. It felt appropriate since it was just the Spring Equinox. This is an Eastern bluebird. I found it interesting they nest in old woodpecker holes, natural cavities or the rafters of buildings. When a female selects a nest site, the male examines its suitability by way of a courtship display. The female may inspect his display or discard it if it is not to her liking. If the female accepts the nesting hole, both sexes work together to seal the hole. After sealing the opening of the hole, the male continues to attract a female with his courtship display. I’m sure the ladybug shoes will help with the display
April 17, 2021: Black Necked Stork in Hip-Waders. This is a female. You can tell by her yellow eyes, males are black. These birds are quite big at dance-like displays. A pair will stalk up to each other face to face, extending their wings and fluttering the wing tips rapidly and advancing their heads until they meet. They then clatter their bills and walk away. The display lasts for a minute and may be repeated several times. Another display as parents, the adult birds take turns at the nest and when one returns to relieve the other, they perform a greeting display with open wings and an up and down movement of their heads.
Feb 27 2021 Naked Neck Chicken in High Tops. This was inspired by a suggestion by Trevor S Robertson. I’m fascinated by rare chicken breeds and this distinctive, quirky and downright bizarre naked neck chicken certainly fits. They do look peculiar, but it’s the way nature made them. This breed that originated from Transylvania are famous for having featherless necks and preferring pink high tops and bow ties.
Feb 17, 2021 Inca Tern in Derby Shoes. They are best known by their dashing white mustaches, which are found on both male and female birds. It’s a gregarious species with an elaborate courtship including a "high flight," with the male quickly ascending to several hundred feet, pursued by the female.
My newest; a Brahminy myna in retro high heels. It’s also called a brahminy starling. This was inspired by a photo posted by a member of my Facebook group Birds in shoes. You can tell this is a male because of the very cool prominent crest which is what attracted me to draw him. My wife helped with the shoe design.
Buff Crested Bustard I Tap Shoes. The name comes from the crest of feathers along the back of the male’s neck that are erected when courting. During the courting ritual he flys straight up in the air and then falls and catches himself just before hitting the ground. The reason I picked tap shoes is the name reminded me of the name for street performers “buskers” and one of the early buskers were tap dancers
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My newest, a Chickadee in retro two tones. This was inspired by the hordes (or banditry) of Chickadees at my bird feeder. It was between this one, a black capped chickadee or a chestnut backed chickadee. I picked this one because I liked his shoes better.
Jan 16, 2021 An African crowned crane in riding boots. I’ve had this crane on my list for some time. They are beautiful birds with a distinctive black patch at the very top of their head and a very cool crown of stiff golden feathers. Another unique feature is their bright red inflatable throat pouch. The riding boots were inspired by a suggestion from Lynn Briody.
My newest, a Tiger heron in orange boots. From what I could find out the bare throated tiger heron fluffs it’s feathers out like this during courtship. I liked the orange boots because it’s gives him a stylish look which should help with his courting.
Jan 14, 2021 Palm Cockatoo in Knight shoes, also known as the goliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo, is a large smoky-grey or black parrot of the cockatoo family. I picked knight boots because when I looked at him the coloring, feathers and the crest of feathers on his head reminded me of a knight in armor.
Dec 31, 2021 Wishing all of you a Happy and More Normal New Year from me and the Birds in shoes Facebook group. 2020 has been a weird and challenging year so I decided to draw a bird in shoes to commemorate it. I picked an Ibis in high heels. This is a northern or hermit ibis. I loved researching ibises. The hermit ibis is rare but in Australia the white ibises are seen daily, often foraging amongst garbage. They have clever nicknames for them like “ bin chickens", "tip turkeys", "sandwich snatchers" and "picnic pirates", to name a few. So an ibis seemed appropriate for 2020.
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Jan 6, 2021 Toucans are exciting to watch and listen to because of their colorful personalities so I thought bright
yellow clogs were appropriate. Studies suggest that a toucan's bill is so large because it helps to keep
the bird cool in the warm climates where it lives. Since they are unable to sweat, they need their bills for
air conditioning, also the reason for holes in their clogs.
Jan 01, 2021 In addition to looking adorable, the young ibis also squeaks while headbanging like a tiny avian punk rocker. Due to the increasing presence of ibis in urban environments and its habit of rummaging in garbage, the species has acquired a variety of colloquial names such as "tip turkey" and "bin chicken", and in recent years has become an icon of Australia's popular culture. Their cute Mary Janes keep their feet from getting dirty when rummaging in the garbage.
Dec 25, 2025 Conures in low tops and Mary Janes. Conures are cute little parrots. These are pineapple sided green cheek conjures and their names are Penelope and Skittles. This was a special request Christmas present for member Shelly Coe from her amazing husband. I drew them together because they spend a lot of time preening and cuddling with each other.
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Dec 23, 2020 Merry Christmas to all the members of the Birds in shoes family. I’m feeling so grateful for all the great posts, comments and for the wonderful community that has been created by the weird idea of putting birds in shoes.
My newest, Partridge in elf shoes. This was inspired by a suggestion by Nancy Tepley-Mimbach to draw a partridge in a pear tree. I thought what better time to draw one than right before Christmas.
Dec 20, 2020 Pterodactyl in sneakers. This was inspired by a suggestion by Jen Pretty. Not quite a bird but maybe a distant cousin. This was a fun one to draw because I had to make up a lot of how it would look. Pterodactyl in sneakers. I was surprised to discover, despite what some people still think, modern birds didn't descend from pterodactyls, but rather, from the small, two-legged, meat-eating dinosaurs of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, many of which were covered with feathers. As far as we know, Pterodactylus and Pteranodon were strictly reptilian in appearance. Not quite a bird or even a relative but it was fun to draw.
December 3, 2020
"My newest, Saw-whet owl in low tops. This was inspired by the tiny owl that was rescued after a 75-foot Norway spruce was cut down in upstate New York and then shipped to Rockefeller Center in NYC. " Jim
Nov 22, 2020 My friend Sarah is sending birds in shoes coasters of different holidays as gifts and said
she wished there was one for Easter. I thought, what better for Easter than a baby chick
wearing pink saddle shoes. When a little baby chick is born it’s about the same size of the egg it was just in; so, you can definitely call it a tight fit. So, it’s a good thing they are born without shoes.
Nov 10, 2020 HAPPY VETERANS DAY to all my fellow veterans. Here is Skipper the parrot wearing my old combat boots. Parrot in combat boots. . This beautiful bird, an Amazon blue front parrot was a request from a fellow veteran that wanted a drawing of Skipper wearing combat boots (I even got to use the boots issued to me in Vietnam over 50 years ago for the drawing and they still fit - ha ha).
Oct 24, 2020 My newest, Cardinal in snow boots. I had several people ask for a cardinal. I’m thinking of using this for December in the calendar.
Sep 13, 2020 My newest, 2 swans in fluevogs. I had separate requests for something with 2 birds, swans and fluevogs (which I had to look up because I’d never heard of fluevog shoes) I decided to combine all three in this one drawing. I love the yin yang aspect and the joining of the black and white swans to make a heart. That was a nod to Brenda (my wife), she makes yin yang heart jewery and wall art (Brenda’s HeART pendants).
Sep 17, 2020 My newest, a Quaker parrot in Mary Janes. It’s also called a Monk parakeet. It’s a member in good standing of the true parrot club
Sep 2, 2020 My Indian Ringneck Parrot in Derby shoes (Doc Martens). This was a special request from a woman in Hong Kong for her husband. Why it’s so special is the husband loves the parrot, both she and the parrot love her husband but the parrot hates her (jealous bird?) but she still wanted the drawing for him. Great wife.
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Dec 8, 2020 Pandemic Stork in slippers. This was inspired by a photo posted by group member Fari Diba. I put him in my favorite sweatpants (my wife caught me singing my sweatpants song to the tune of Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound is silence, “Hello sweatpants my old friend, I’ve come to wear you once again”). He represents how many of us are feeling after 8+ months in quarantine.
Nov 30, 2020 I enjoyed doing the Easter chick so much I decided to go cute again with this duckling. Young ducklings can feed themselves as soon as the reach water but must learn what is edible and are stars at bug patrol.
Nov 6, 202 My hornbill in cowboy boots. This is southern yellow-billed hornbill Its found in southern Africa. I thought it was cool not only for how it looks but she/he feeds mainly on the ground, where they forage for seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions.
Sep 5, 2020 My newest, a Dong Tao chicken with painted toenails. I’ve been fascinated with rare chicken breeds lately. This Vietnamese chicken is also called the Dragon Chicken. It is one of the oldest chicken breeds. Experts believe you are basically looking at a small dinosaur. I didn’t have the heart to put shoes on him because his most stunning feature is his huge legs so I decided to paint his toenails.
Sep 9, 2020 My Dracula Parrot In Skull buckle boots. The Pesquet's parrot is often called the Dracula parrot or the vulturine parrot. I put the skull buckle boots on him as a nod to my second favorite holiday, Halloween (Thanksgiving is first, I’ll need to do a turkey for that in Pilgrim shoes).
Aug 25, 2020 My newest, Crow in Roger’s boots. This one is to honor my late father in-law (Roger). He always fed the neighborhood crows. Every time his kids see a crow they think about him. The challenge with this drawing is that he was a sweet gentle man,not most people’s image of crows. They tend to carry themselves with a bit of an attitude. So my challenge was to draw a sweet gentle looking crow. The boots are similar to his favorite work boots. ❤️
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Aug 30, 2020 Vulture in Toe Shoes. The turkey vulture, also known in some North American regions as the turkey buzzard, and in some areas of the Caribbean as the John crow or carrion crow, is the most widespread of the New World vultures. Society, in general, portrays them and vultures in general, as dirty, evil, harbingers of death. In reality, these scavenging birds are actually very important for the health and success of an ecosystem. By feeding on carrion, vultures help prevent the spread of deadly diseases. These special birds are incredibly misunderstood and as a result very little is known of their ballet skill.
Aug 15, 2020 My newest, Bantam Silkie in muck boots. This was a special request from Pamela Garrick. She said her Bantam Silkie isn't a big guy but a wonderful gentleman to his Girlz Miracle Mona, Mary Jane and Jumpin Mz, Jo jo. Early Early Earl ( what his crowing sounds like) and the Girlzzz. I love em.
Aug 8, 2020 Little Blue Heron in cowgirl boots. Despite the heron in the name , the Little Blue Heron is probably a closer relative of the Snowy Egret than the great blue heron. It looks much like a Snowy when its young and changes color as it ages. When they mature their heads and neck turn purple so I thought purple boots would fit it nicely.
Jul 12, 202 My Crested guineafowl in rockabilly shoes. The bird was recommended by Candy Ring and the rockabilly blue suede shoes was a nod to Carl Perkins and my UK friend Johnny Gorman.
Jul 25, 2020 My Ostrich in Musketeer boots. We’ve been watching the BBC series The Musketeers, I loved their uniforms especially their boots. I thought the only bird that could pull them off would be an Ostrich. Brenda (my wife) has a crush on one of the Musketeers and wants me to name this ostrich D’Artagnan.
Apr 23, 2020 Seagull in rubber boots. This was inspired by my friend Jane and her love of seagulls
Seagulls are very clever. They learn, remember and even pass on behaviours, such as stamping their feet in a group to imitate rainfall and trick earthworms to come to the surface. Seagulls’ intelligence is clearly demonstrated by a range of different feeding behaviours, such as dropping hard-shelled molluscs onto rocks so that they break open so they can eat them, and following ploughs in fields where they know upturned grubs and other food sources will be plentiful.
Gulls have a complex and highly developed repertoire for communication which includes a range of vocalisations and body movements. Seagulls can even drink both fresh and salt water.
Silver Polish chicken in cowboy boots. I’m constantly amazed at the beautiful chickens I had no idea existed. Thank you Rod for suggesting this one. I put this one in his wife’s favorite cowboy boots by his request (great husband move).
Mar 26, 2020 Go away bird in pink fuzzy slippers . This bird in shoes was inspired by all of us hunkered down in our homes on self quarantine. It’s a Go away bird in pink fuzzy slippers.
The Go away bird also known as the grey lourie is a bold and common bird of the southern Afrotropics. When they are disturbed they make their presence known by their characteristically loud and nasal "kweh" or "go-way" calls. I picked pink for the fuzzy slippers because pink represents giving and receiving compassion and care.
Bald Eagle on roller skates. The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States. It can be found on the U.S. seal, stamps, coins and much more. The founders of the United States wanted a bird to symbolize a nation they hoped would be strong and powerful and one that could soar high in the sky to represent freedom. To fit this description, the founders chose the bald eagle, which is an eagle species found only in North America. I added roller skates just for the fun of it.
Plague bird in pink high tops. I decided to draw this crow in a plague mask wearing pink high tops to honor the medical professionals and volunteers that are putting in long hours and risking their lives to care for people with the Covid-19 virus. In the 17th and 18th centuries Doctors invented these masks to protect themselves and prevent contagion. These masks have lenses on the eyes and a long cavity in the nose, which was filled with aromatic items such as ambergris, mint, or rose petals. These were meant to ward the disease away because people believed miasma (bad air) spread the disease. I picked pink for the hightops because pink represents caring, compassion and love and is associated with giving and receiving care. I decided to use a crow because I like crows and they symbolize wisdom as well as intellect and being fearless and strong
Bushtit in Mary Janes. This was a special request from my wife mostly because every time I said I was drawing a bushtit, she
giggled. This is the black throated bushtit. It’s highly social and will travel in large flocks of
up to 40 birds and will even join mixed-species feeding flocks. They are a great combination of being social and inclusive.
First Calendar Art
May 10, 2020 Seahawk in fan shoes. I had several requests for a Seahawk from friends in Seattle. I did some research and there are two birds referred to as sea hawks, the osprey and the sea eagle. The sea eagle looked most like the Seahawks logo so I chose it. A sea eagle (also called erne or ern, mostly in reference to the white-tailed eagle) is any of the birds from the birds of prey family. I designed the shoes with Seahawk colors and the 12 to honor fans.
Great Blue Heron in Galoshes. I remember an old line; maturity is putting on your galoshes even when your parents tell you to . This seems to fits our present situation so well during the pandemic (social distancing, stay at home, etc). You can’t tell me what to do and you’re not the boss of me is getting people killed. Be like the great blue heron and wear your damn galoshes (by the look on his face you can tell he’s not happy about it either but he’s still doing it )
Apr 15, 2020
Emu in Kiss boots. This was inspired by my neighbor Mark, a big Kiss fan. Which meant I needed a big bird to pull off those boots. The Emu more than fit that need. It’s the largest bird in Australia and second largest in the world after the ostrich. It commonly lives in the Southern part of the island, Tasmania and easily rocked those boots.
Steampunk stork in buckle boots. I’m a big fan of Steampunk and had a great time outfitting this stork in steampunk gear. Steampunk is a retrofuturistic subgenre of science fiction that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Steampunk stories are often set in an alternative history of the Victorian era or the American "Wild West", where steam power remains in mainstream use.
Hornbill in buckle shoes. This is a black hornbill. These striking birds are early risers. Often up with the sun, they spend their morning preening and calling to their neighbors. As social creatures they forage together looking for fruit (mostly figs) and insects.
Mar 22, 2020 ❤️UK Robin in Platform Shoes. This bird in shoes was inspired by my friend Sue that told me robins in the UK look different than the ones in the US. The UK Robin is the unofficial national bird of the UK and from the flycatcher family of birds. The main similarity to the US Robin is the red breast. The European robin is a compact songbird and a common sight in many gardens, woodlands, and yards, not just in the UK, but throughout Europe. Despite their amiable appearance, they can be very aggressive and territorial birds especially when wearing those shoes.
Mar 20, 2020
I decided to draw this crow in a plague mask wearing pink high tops to honor the medical professionals and volunteers that are putting in long hours and risking their lives to care for people with the Covid-19 virus. In the 17th and 18th centuries Doctors invented these masks to protect themselves and prevent contagion. These masks have lenses on the eyes and a long cavity in the nose, which was filled with aromatic items such as ambergris, mint, or rose petals. These were meant to ward the disease away because people believed miasma (bad air) spread the disease. I picked pink for the hightops because pink represents caring, compassion and love and is associated with giving and receiving care. I decided to use a crow because I like crows and they symbolize wisdom as well as intellect and being fearless and strong.
Mar 4, Barefooted blue footed booby. A special request. Barefooted Blue-footed Booby. I had many request to do a blue-footed booby. I just couldn’t cover those beautiful blue feet. Blue-footed boobies are aptly named, and males take great pride in their fabulous feet. During mating rituals, male birds show off their feet to prospective mates with a high-stepping strut.
Turkey in Pilgrim shoes
I drew this to illustrate what I’m calling the “Chicken on a Python Syndrome”. When I was in Vietnam (50 years ago)I had a pet 12 foot python. I fed her chickens. I remember this one chicken; I put her into the enclosure and it wildly ran around trying to hide from the snake. After a while the chicken just gave up and went over and sat on the python with a weird look on her face. I think many of us are going through this right now with all the fear swirling around us every day from the pandemic, the divisive political climate, police shootings, climate change etc., etc. and all the politicians delightfully exploiting this fear in hopes for more votes. We get tired of being scared and then get a weird look on our faces and go and sit on the python. Stay safe and keep the faith, we’ll get through this.
To complete the story: I talked with a local to find out why the python wasn’t eating. She’d laid unfertile eggs that weren’t hatching and he said she was depressed. I returned her to the jungle and gave the traumatized chicken to a local farmer and envision both having a long happy life)
Dec 25, 2019 obin in checkered sneakers. It was originally a Robin in Vans but I got a cease and desist notice from them when I downloaded it on Redbubble. I guess they weren’t impressed. I get a warm feeling when I see the first robin of spring because I know warmer weather is on the way. This drawing is special to me because I drew it for my amazing nephew Terry
Dec 22, 2019 Snow Goose in Santa boots, Wishing all of you Happy Holidays. Snow goose in Santa boots. I decided to draw a Christmas goose. Domestic geese have been used for centuries as watch animals and guards, and are among the most aggressive of all poultry.
There are also Mother Goose tales, such as a farmwife might have told; there is the proverbial goose that laid the golden eggs, warning about the perils of greed. Plus they look great in a Santa hat and boots.
Dec, 19 2019 a shoebill in work boots was a suggestion by Nicole Le Blanc. Shoebill in Work Boots. This is my favorite bird. Shoebills are ancient birds that have been recognized by humans all the way back to the time of ancient Egypt. All shoebill birds have massive spoon-like bills and feature gray plumage. They have a large wingspan meant for soaring and short necks, unlike their stork and pelican relatives. Shoebills use their massive, powerful bills to kill and eat their prey. I think it’s very cool that they clatter their bills to communicate with one another, but may also rarely make mooing sounds as a form of communication as well.
Dec 13, 2019 his Hummingbird in ruby slippers is dedicated to my Mom that passed in 2019. My Mom loved hummingbirds and the cactus I used as a model was a cutting my Mom gave us when my daughter was born. Also this drawing is based on one I did as a request by family members that wanted a hummingbird tattoo to remember my Mom.
Blue jay in golf shoes. This was inspired by my friends Robyn and Mark and a story that Robyn told me that touched my heart. Mark's younger brother Jay was killed suddenly in a car accident. Mark was deep in shock and grief so they went to Point No Point just to get away. They were really surprised to see a rare blue jay sighting when one landed on their porch and sat there for a while looking at them inside their cabin. They were in a different kind of shock when he hopped across the threshold, looked at each of them and then hopped out and flew away. They now see blue jays as miracle message carriers. The shoes are a nod to Mark’s love of golf.
Unicorn colt. This is in the group because I figure every bird in shoes group needs at least one unicorn.
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Aug 4, 2020 PMy Golden Polish chicken in farm boots. This was suggested by Samantha Null and Cathy Liddicoatt Messer. Golden Polish chicken in farm boots. Despite their name, Golden Polish did not originate in Poland. They gained their name because their crests resembled the hats of the Polish military. Some experts believe that Spanish settlers brought Polish chickens with them when they migrated north to the Netherlands.
Jul 3, 2020 Guinea fowl in 2 tone wingtips. This bird lives in Kenya. This one is a vulturine guinea fowl. This large, uniquely beautiful, and gregarious species closely resembles a vulture in that their slim neck protrudes from a long, glossy blue and white cape, or hackles. I picked the shoes because I thought he’d like them.
Jun 10, 2020 My Cassowary in Victorian boots. They are called modern day dinosaurs and are classified in the dangerous category with alligators and wild cats because of its long dagger-like toes.
But what excites scientists about the cassowary — a large, emu-like, flightless bird — is its distinctive look. With its black iridescent feathered body, its blue, turquoise and magenta neck and horned crest or casque. It’s been described as looking like a high-fashion dinosaur so I had to put it in high-fashion boots.
Jun 27, 2020 Cockatoo in creeper sneakers. This is a Major Mitchell Cockatoo in orange leopard print creeper sneakers. Named for Major Sir Thomas Mitchell, an explorer and surveyor of Australia and admirer of the species. It’s also called the Leadbeater Cockatoo, its scientific name "leadbeateri" commemorates ornithologist Benjamin Leadbeater. I mostly drew it because I thought it was pretty and I thought the shoes fit him.
Jul 21, 2020 Pelican in shrimper boots. I was deciding what boots I should put on a pelican and ran across my neighbor Morganne and her sister from Louisiana and they suggested shrimper boots.There are more than half a dozen species of pelicans, but all of them have the famous throat pouch for which the birds are best known. These large birds use their elastic pouches to catch fish. The American white pelican can hold some 3 gallons of water in its bill. Young pelicans feed by sticking their bills into their parents' throats to retrieve food.
May 26, 2020 just finished this Blackbird in high tops for the Cody Blackbird Band. They contacted me after a friend showed them my raven in high tops and asked to use it for T-shirts and other merchandise. I added the fedora and sunglasses that Cody wears to customize it for them.
Apr 27, 2020 Woodpecker in logging boots. This is a Pileated Woodpecker, one of the biggest, most striking forest birds in the US. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood.
Mar 4, 2020 Great horned Owl in Bunny Slippers. They are also known as the tiger owl (originally derived from early naturalists' description as the "winged tiger" or "tiger of the air"), It is an extremely adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas. Its primary diet is rabbits and hares (one of the reasons for the slippers besides they’re cute), rats and mice.
Mar 18, 2020 Toucan in clown shoes. I though this was appropriate given all the stress and fear out there these days. A good reminder to play more. Toucans are highly social and playful birds. That’s one of the reasons I picked clown shoes besides color is how playful they are. Toucans often spend time sparring with their bills, tag-chasing and calling. Experts believe they play to fill the time it takes for their food (fruit) to digest. This would be a good practice for many of us.
Feb 25, 2020 Secretary bird in red high heels. I had 2 suggestions from friends that wanted a bird in red high heels. Secretary Bird in high heels. The origins of the secretary bird’s name are much debated. One theory is that the feathers jutting out behind the birds head reminded 19th-century Europeans of the quill pens that secretaries tucked behind their ears, while its grey and black body was reminiscent of their tailcoats.ts. A more recent theory is that the name derives from the Arabic ‘saqr-et-tair’, or ‘hunter bird’. The secretary bird is a large bird of prey found in grasslands and savannah across Sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two birds of prey preferring to hunt on foot (the other being the caracara). At about 4 feet tall, its height allows it to spot insects, lizards, snakes and rats in the tall grass.
Spoonbill in swim fins. This is a roseate spoonbill, the only spoonbill native to the Western Hemisphere. As the name implies, the roseate spoonbill also has a large, spoon-shaped bill, which it sweeps back and forth in shallow water to capture prey. The specialized bill has sensitive nerve endings which help the birds search for food in shallow water. Their diet primarily consists of crayfish, shrimp, crabs, and small fish. They are often seen wearing green swim fins and goggles to compliment their pink color.
Penguin in gold wingtips. This was inspired by my friend Noel B Murphy. He’s a stand up comedian and wears gold wingtips when he performs. This is a rock hopper penguin. These penguins are called "rockhoppers" because they literally jump from rock to rock.
Cody Blackbird in high tops. Blackbird in high tops. I drew this for the Cody Blackbird Band. They contacted me after a friend showed them my raven in high tops and asked to use it for T-shirts and other merchandise to be sold at his concerts. I added the fedora and sunglasses that Cody wears to customize it for them.
Feb 29, 2020 Blue footed booby in flip flops
Blue footed booby was suggested by my friend Heidi. The challenge was not to cover up the beautiful blue feet with shoes. I ended up with flip flops but to accommodate the structure of their feet I had to put them on the wrong feet. Try saying blue footed booby in flip flops really fast. Brenda laughs every time she hears it.
Blue jay in punk boots. Steller’s jay in punk boots. I drew this in honor of the Steller’s Jays that visit my house. I put this one in punk boots because like many punks are known for being a bold and aggressive species. They are related to the common blue jay and are frequently found scavenging in campgrounds, picnic areas and my yard.
Barn owl in penny loafers. The barn owl is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds. The barn owl is found almost everywhere in the world except for the polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalayas, most of Indonesia, and some Pacific islands. The penny loafers were my idea (I still have a pair like them).
Feb 7, 2020 Roadrunner in Red Cowboy Boots. The roadrunner is a long-legged bird in the cuckoo family, from the Aridoamerica region in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. The scientific name means "Californian earth-cuckoo". Its also known as the chaparral cock, ground cuckoo, and snake killer. The cowboy boots are nod to the region they come from and are handy for stomping on snakes.
Kingfisher in duck shoes. They are noted for their spectacular dives into water. They are worldwide in distribution but are chiefly tropical.
These vocal, colourful birds are renowned for their dramatic hunting techniques. They typically sits very still, watching for movement from a favorite perch and then swiftly dive on their prey, in this case a lizard.
Puffin in hiking boots. This was requested by my daughter Katelyn. These are seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil. Hiking boot seemed to fit with their habitat.
Jan 25, 2020 frog mouthed owl and baby in low tops. Tawny Frogmouth and baby in low tops. The Tawny Frogmouth may look like an owl, and although it is related to owls, the Tawny Frogmouth is more closely related to Oilbirds and Nightjars. The Tawny Frogmouth is found throughout mainland Australia, Tasmania and southern New Guinea and it also occurs in India and across southern Asia. This bird is so perfectly camouflaged during the day that it may be living near you, without you ever noticing. The only clue might be their low, humming ‘ooom-ooom-ooom’ call, heard mainly at night.
Baby blue heron in baby boots. Great Blue Herons typically nest in colonies, called heronries. The babies are called chicks and look very cute in baby booties but I suggest you waterproof them because they spend so much time in the water
King Vulture in Biker Boots. King vultures have a very colorful look that distinguishes them from their vulture relatives. They are predominately white, with black tails and wing tips. They have piercing, often straw-colored eyes and multicolored (yellow, orange, and red) heads and necks. I added the boots because I thought he’d look good in them.
Golden pheasant in Arabian slippers. I picked the shoes first because I liked reading books about the Arabian Nights. I thought this pheasant fit the style. The golden pheasant, also known as the Chinese pheasant, and rainbow pheasant. The genus name is from Ancient Greek khrusolophos, "with golden crest", and pictus is Latin for "painted" from pingere, "to paint".
Jj chicken in Jordans. This was a special request for Jj’s chicken Filipina specialty restaurant, Hen Haus, in San Mateo California! It was fun figuring how to put Jj’s curly hair, glasses and her favorite shoes on a chicken.
Magpie in wingtips. They walk with a swaggering strut which works well for shoes. They sometimes gather in flocks, even seemingly living communally, and will band together to mob a raptor. This is a black-billed magpie which I found out mate for life. One of the most notable Black-billed Magpie behaviors is the so-called “funeral”—when one magpie discovers a dead magpie, it begins calling loudly to attract other magpies. The gathering of raucously calling magpies (up to 40 birds have been observed) may last for 10 to 15 minutes before the birds disperse and fly off silently.
Nov 18, 2019 Stork in wingtips. Storks have been part of many cultures beliefs for centuries. By observing the storks, which travelled south to warmer climates every year, returning with the spring, the ancient Slavs had the perfect example of their reincarnation belief. For the ancient Slaves, winter was the dark part of the year, symbolizing death. Thus, they assumed that storks – carrying the souls of the dead – travelled south, to a beautiful paradise. And with the arrival of the spring, the storks would return, and complete the cycle of reincarnation. To this very day there is a common common anecdote that storks bring babies, new life to the world (the image was very common in the cartoons of my childhood).
And because of this it is considered a great misfortune to harm, chase away, or kill a stork. To do so would bring on a great and heavy curse. That is why today, in many villages of northern Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Poland, one can see numerous storks roosting in chimneys, on telephone poles, or church steeples. No one disturbs them, and everyone looks on them kindly even when they wear wingtips.
Nov 18, 2019 Kiwi in saddle shoes. This was my first bird in shoes drawing. The kiwi is a unique and curious bird: it cannot fly, has loose, hair-like feathers, strong legs and no tail. It’s about the size of a chicken. It’s the national icon of New Zealand.
Nov 19, 2019 Flamingo in stilettos, A special request from Brenda. Flamingo in Stilettos. The word "flamingo" comes from the Spanish word "flamenco" which means fire, and refers to the bright color of the birds' feathers. Not all flamingos are brightly colored because the strength of a flamingo's coloration comes from their diet. Flamingos hold their bent bills upside down while feeding, often for several hours a day, so they can filter out their food while skimming the water. All this plus their tall majestic bodies look great in stilettos
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