Pygmy nuthatches are tiny, communal songbirds that flit from branch to branch with boundless happy energy. I've enjoyed hours watching them and listening to their cute “rubber-ducky” calls. Pygmies breed in large extended-family groups and need mature pine forests to successfully nest. During cold winters here in the West, these little birds even roost together to stay warm.

In this painting, I highlight the connection of mature forests to healthy populations of songbirds. Pygmies, once common, face challenges today in places like Colorado where I live because of heavy land use alteration and forest clearing. Let's keep our mature pine forests flourishing to ensure that these adorable songbirds have a bright, beautiful future!

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