This painting was done for the Centennial celebration of the National Wildlife Refuge system. It features the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in particular.National Wildlife Refuges are great for many animals but migrating birds probably benefit the most. They also benefit people. They often have trails and visitor centers etc., and people on hand to give tours. NWR’s are also very beneficial to hunters and usually let in a specified number of hunters throughout the hunting season. Some people don’t like this fact but they need to remember that about 90% of the National Wildlife Refuge’s funds come from hunters.

I have had a great relationship with the Ottawa NWR. That is why, when they asked if I would do this painting, I readily agreed. They wanted the painting to feature a Great Lakes coastal wetlands. They also wanted it to include some natural vegetation as well as some wildlife particular to the Great Lakes region. The Black Duck is definitely a bird that fits that definition with a large percentage of the bird’s population dependent on this region for wintering grounds. If you have a NWR near you, I would highly recommend planning a visit.