Fireball - Screech Owl

This painting was done as a tribute to a little screech owl as well as to his caretaker, Michelle, whom I know from a bird rehabilitation center in Ohio. The owl has beautiful reddish-brown feathers and very expressive eyes; therefore, they named him Fireball. Since Fireball could no longer be released in nature due to an injury, he serves in an educational capacity, teaching children and adults about the importance of night raptors. Screech owls vary in color phases from reddish brown to very gray. The design of their feather coat provides perfect camouflage when they are at rest during the day. Nevertheless, when disturbed in its daydreams, or feeling threatened, it has the habit of freezing in an upright position, with the ear tufts (which are not the ears) standing straight up, just like its bigger cousin, the long-eared owl. This little beauty is found all over the U.S. and parts of western Canada in woods, farmlands and shade trees.