Songbirds can avoid birds of prey, such as the American kestrel, not by fleeing but by taking cover within shrubbery or foliage. The idea for this painting came to me while observing songbirds nestled in the bushes on my property.  A shrub at my mother's house shouted out to me as a perfect setting.  It was an in-between stage of leaves changing color and falling off, providing interesting color and detail.  It was recently trimmed and its branches looked like spikes jutting out; a fortress for protection.