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Submitted: December 1, 2011
Image Size: 132 KB
Resolution: 800×573

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Northern Fulmarby ~Nambroth

Scraps

A dark phase Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis.

Fulmars are so cool! They have naricorns, or as I like to say, tube-noses. The tube is thought to help them funnel air into their nostrils to greatly increase their sense of smell for their food out to sea. They also have a special adaptation to excrete excess salt (from living in a marine environment) from their bodies as a concentrated saline solution.

5" x 7" ink and watercolor on rough.

_{Some reading about the plight of Fulmars and our oceans:

Fulmars (and many other sea birds) have a habit of eating most anything they find floating in the ocean, and brightly colored bits of things look deliciously like excitingly colored pieces of fish, squid, jellyfish and other such delights. Sadly, this day and age, most of those bright bits that they find are small bits of plastic. Studies in the Netherlands alone show that over 98% of fulmars have plastic inside their bodies. Over 85% of Fulmars in Canada have plastic in their stomachs. Plastic can cause impaction (leading to starvation and death), and/or is broken down into increasingly small particles which are unfortunately not as inert as we like to think. A final plastic product that we experience is rarely toxic, but once it rolls around in the ocean for a while and is broken down, plastics can contain many toxic additives and the monomers are more easily released. While these birds do eat large pieces of plastic sometimes, far more deadly in the long term is the plastic that is broken down into little bits.
Fulmars are only one animal that is impacted by the plastic slurry. Guess what else likes to eat tiny bits of plastic, especially ones that look like plankton? It's hard to imagine any animal that likes fish. (I like fish.)
More reading: [link] Warning: Opens as .PDF file.}

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~Xrose96 Dec 29, 2011

Beautiful

Excellent technique with the water.

~Cocoloy Dec 11, 2011 Student Traditional Artist

Beautiful - love your clean use of line and the way you captured the reflection

~Broadwinger Dec 3, 2011 Hobbyist General Artist

So pretty!

~LoveandBonestm Dec 2, 2011 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

~Aquilla-Whingate Dec 2, 2011 General Artist

All this insight into this specimen is fascinating, how be it that I am sure this is not the only creature troubled with eating plastic as I am sure others do as well, I am also not sure as to what predators might eat this bird, and then they would have the accumulated toxins as well. I so think the way you designed this bird is nice, even down to the reflection in the water looks nice. It without the name just resembles a type of duck but I like it all the same.

~Escape96 Dec 2, 2011

wow this is really good!

~Queen-Caffeine Dec 1, 2011

This is such an excellent work of art! It was really interesting to read the information you provided about this beautiful birdie

Thank you for spreading awareness as well as producing magnificent artwork! The feathers look so realistic and the water looks incredible!!
Even though I only photograph birds, I totally know how detailed they are and how intricate their feathers and beaks especially can be. I admire your technique! keep up the great work!!!!

~indigo-98 Dec 1, 2011 Hobbyist General Artist

I really like the eye.

~PepsiLight11 Dec 1, 2011

i also wanna say beautiful

*yellowsmoke321 Dec 1, 2011 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

beautiful

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