Unexpected Connections
A sudden flash of white-and-black wings lifts from the roadside and then vanishes just as quickly into the field. Only one bird shows so much white in winter: the snow bunting. In good years, I spot them at the edges of nearby agricultural fields where they forage for seeds. Snow buntings are birds of the high Arctic that come south to the northern U.S. and Canada in winter.
After painting these birds, I went looking for images of their eggs to add to the page. I was delighted to discover a nest on the iDigBio website from the collection at the Natural History Museum of Norway. I could read the collection date, 1904, on its label, but the handwritten location data proved tougher to decipher. So I went back to the collection record to search for more details. That search, unexpectedly, placed me aboard the 1903–1906 Gjoa Expedition of polar explorer Roald Amundsen. He and his six‑man crew collected the nest in Nunavut, Canada, while searching for the Northwest Passage.
So here’s to snow buntings, a 122-year old nest (and the birds it was taken from), a crew of intrepid explorers—and the unexpected discovery that connected me to them through my sketchbook.
Tips and Techniques– What do you do when you spell something wrong? Sometimes, you can fix it, and other times, you just have to live with it, which is what I decided to do here. My error stands out plain as day, but it would be more noticeable if I tried to fix it.
Drawn In 
Oh my goodness Jean! What an awesome sighting and amazing connection to history! And your depiction of these magnificent birds and their nest of eggs is wonderful. Brings back memories of our years spent in Alaska where snow buntings were a common sight north of Fairbanks . Thanks so much for sharing, and persistent search for more details about the egg collection!
isn’t it just possible these beautiful birds must manage many many magnificent feathers to maintain their puffy winter mackinaws? Leaving the barely noticeable “typo” was the perfect decision!
Didn’t know you spent time in Alaska, Barb. Did you see snow buntings in their breeding plumage there?
I love this page, Jean! Couldn’t spot the spelling mistake either. Did you work from photos of the birds or the live ones? Interesting info on using the link for the iDIGBIO site. Looks like a great website for educators.
Looking forward to your next post on ‘Drawn In.’
I love this page, Jean! Couldn’t spot the spelling mistake either. Did you work from photos of the birds or the live ones? Interesting info on using the link for the iDIGBIO site. Looks like a great website for educators.
Looking forward to your next post on ‘Drawn In.’
I worked from photos for these birds. And I’m glad you didn’t see the spelling error! I use iDigBio a lot to find reference photos. You can get lost in there!
Love the historical connect here and great images. I really had to look to find your error. Wise to let it sit – the focus is on the birds and eggs.