Folk Art and Painted Birds - Why Fall Feeding Is Good For Birds

Stephanie Jones Indigo bunting

The Gallery's newest artists Jay and Stephanie Jones create simple, straightforward and quiet works of folk art.  All the birds are hand carved, painted in latex acrylic and signed.  The wood is cedar, either found on the forest floor downed by storms or given to them by friends. The birds are carved by Stephanie and she takes great pride in their construction and painting.  Jay carves the fish and turtles which are made from pine, and painted and signed by Jay.

Using Grandma Moses as an inspiration, the couple's work is also self taught, naive and colorful, based on the quiet beauty of the world around them.

Al Ramirez hummingbird giclee' print

Fall is a busy time for birds - some are preparing to migrate to warmer climes for the winter and others are checking out the best feeding spots for the cold winter months.

According to birdwatching.com, What you do as the days grow shorter lets the birds know that you want their business and invites them to come back when serious winter comes.


People who don't start feeding birds until severe weather arrives may be missing out. Fall is the season to begin, even though natural foods are plentiful and the birds like the tufted titmouse above may not spend much time at your feeder yet. They are out in the fields and woods, feasting on seeds and berries and well-fed insects.

Jones cardinal

Ramirez Indigo bunting

The birds that do visit feeders in the abundance of autumn are scouting. They need to be ready when cold weather hits. The red-bellied woodpecker at left was well acquainted with our feeding station before winter arrived.


Cold will increase their calorie requirements, right at the moment that food becomes harder to get. Insects stop flying and wiggling. Snow covers seeds. Ice seals away tree buds, wild fruits, and the insects that woodpeckers and nuthatches like to find under the bark of trees.


So they need to be ready. That's whey they're studying their resources in advance. Noting where food is available. Locating alternatives. Taking inventory of contingent provisions.


It's good to be included in their inventories. If the birds discover that your yard is worth visiting, they'll remember. And when that first storm hits, they'll show up. Hungry. Chirpy and chattery. Red and blue and black-and-white and yellow. Fun to look at on a snowy day.

Ramirez goldfinch

Local artist Al Ramirez creates stunning bird portraits of the local mountain species set with a seasonal  background. They are sure to please the bird lover on your gift list!  Each one is reproduced using the professional fine art giclee' method.

Ramirez cardinal

Jones goldfinch

Jones hummingbird

Mellow Yellow Monday

Ruby Tuesday