Going to the Birds in July

My favorite category among all of the new bird categories is the one showcasing vintage illustrations of herons.

The heron drawing shown here is from one of my favorite children's book illustrators Harrison Weir (1824-1906). This image and a number of others that can be found on Reusable Art are from the book Bird Tales which was published around 1889.

Herons are such large and elegant birds that once you see one in the wild, you will never forget the experience. North Carolina is lucky to have many of these long-legged birds visit and it is always exciting to spot one.

The robin images collection is also a new addition this month to Reusable Art. While there are currently only four images there, do be sure to check them out if you are looking for a vintage drawing of this colorful harbinger of spring.

While perhaps more prolific in Great Britain, the thrush appears to be a bird often depicted in vintage children's books. From a highly detailed thrush bird piece by the great bird illustrator Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874-1927) to a simpler drawing of a thrush perched on a tree branch, these thrush bird images may be just what you need.

It's no wonder Ben Franklin wanted to make the turkey the national bird of the United States. These large, stately birds are quite beautiful and are exciting to see in the wild.

Living in Western North Carolina has afforded us the opportunity to see these birds in a natural setting.

On one memorable outing, we saw a mother hen with her brood of her poults (babies) on the side of a mountain road. This vintage turkey drawing reminds me of what we saw that day. The original is much larger at 385px wide by 548px tall and would make a great post-card or greeting card image.