Lakeside Bird Walk and Junco Sketch Sesh
Saturday, October 11 was World Migratory Bird Day. To mark the event, Meredith Blunt (local artist, bird enthusiast, and co-chair of Bird Friendly City Kitchener) led 15 participants on a sauntering stroll along the paved trail at Lakeside Park. Following that, we sat for a guided ‘no-judgement’ sketch session of the recently announced official bird of the City of Kitchener – the Dark-eyed Junco.
The birds present that day included:
- Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers
- a skein of flying Mallards overhead
- a Golden-crowned Kinglet
- a pair of Turkey Vultures
- American Robin
- Northern Cardinal
- a Pied-billed Grebe dunking and diving in the pond
- and the sharp calls of Blue Jays and Red-winged Blackbirds
It seemed the juncos hadn’t yet arrived at Lakeside. We didn’t see any. But, we set about to sketch them anyway. We made ourselves comfortable on chairs or blankets or at the park’s picnic tables, and art supplies were distributed.
Meredith guided us step-by-step…
“It starts with a circle.”
“And then another one.”
And, here’s what we came up with.
Comments made at the end of the session
- “What an experience, sketching outside ‘in plein aire’ while hearing birds all around.”
- “I really enjoyed it.”
- “I’m so proud of my bird!”
- “Junco is a sign winter’s coming.”
- “Juncos are all round and fluffy.”
- “Every junco should be described as magnificent.”
- “What does a junco look like? Each of us has our own interpretation.”
- “It’s really hard to describe how to draw but you, Meredith, achieved it.”
- “I believe it’s the first ‘art’ outing we’ve had at Lakeside. It was so casual, relaxing, and enjoyable. And the weather was perfect.”
- “I learned a lot. Start by using simple basic familiar shapes.”
- “What a lovely way to start a holiday Monday. The walk and the art were terrific. I hope we can do more of these in Lakeside Park.”
Mary Ann Vanden Elzen