ONE MILLION SPECIES

Devastated reading the UN report on biodiversity loss, I am recommitting to a project I started a while ago to paint portraits of critically endangered species. A bit different than my usual work, but bear with me. From the article in The New York Times: ““Human actions threaten more species with global extinction now than ever before,” the report concludes, estimating that “around 1 million species already face extinction, many within decades, unless action is taken.” Follow the project @onemillionspecies on Instagram.

Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. Endangered. This species of bumble bee has declined 87% in the last twenty years. It is threatened by pesticide use, climate change, habitat loss, intensive farming and disease. . . . . #endangeredspecies #rustypatchedbumbl
Western Monarch. Nearing extinction. This butterfly migrates to the coastal areas between Baja and Mendocino, CA. In the last three years, there has been a precipitous decline in the number of butterflies spotted on this route—to fewer than 30,
Eskimo Curlew. Critically endangered, presumed extinct. This bird was once the most numerous shorebird in the tundra of Alaska and Canada. The species suffered under un-regulated hunting in the late 19th century and was never able to recover, and the
Key Deer. Endangered. The Key deer is a very small subspecies of white-tailed deer that is endemic to the Florida Keys. Fully-grown adults only average 26” high at the shoulder. There are only 700-800 of these deer remaining, and they are threa
Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle. Critically Endangered. Only three or four of these turtles still exist, one of which was recently discovered to be female, reigniting the possibility of reproduction. This is the largest freshwater turtle in the worl
Maui Parrotbill. Critically Endangered. This is a rare species of Hawaiian honeycreeper and is only found in 50 sq km of wet forest on Maui. There are only about 500 of these birds remaining, threatened by habitat loss and introduced pests such as ra
Coral Pink Sand Dunes Tiger Beetle. Critically Endangered. This beetle only occurs in the coral pink sand dunes in southern Utah, and is threatened by off-road vehicle use and climate change. . . . #onemillionspecies #criticallyendangered #coralsand
Staghorn Coral. Critically Endangered. This is one of the most important corals in the Caribbean, having built reefs that are 5,000 years old that are home to other animals. This coral was affected by a severe disease in the 1980s that wiped out a si
Mississippi Sandhill Crane. Critically Endangered. These cranes are a subspecies of sandhill crane that are only found on or near the Mississippi Sandhill Crane Wildlife Refuge. There are only about 100 remaining, threatened by habitat loss. . . #one



 
 

WASHINGTON POSTCARD SERIES:

This is an ongoing series started in February 2017 as a response to current events.

DAILY DRAWING PROJECT:

From September 7, 2015 until September 7, 2016, I undertook a daily drawing project, and here is a selection of drawings from the year: