Cape May Warbler and Balsam

The Cape May warbler is one of the many species of migrants which winters in the tropics and breeds in the northern forests. In recent years, their numbers have been rapidly declining. There are many reasons for this, but two obvious ones are the cutting of forests and the spraying of pesticides. In this painting, I have shown the tip of a balsam fir with its rich bounty of cones. I enjoy their soft, purplish bloom in contrast with the warbler. Let us hope that nature and common sense will prevail, and the warblers will not only survive but multiply back to their former populations.