Cowbird Companions

Congratulations to artist Daniel Smith who is in the middle of another active and productive year! "Western Art & Architecture" included Daniel and his son, Adam, in their feature story “The Ties that Bind” in the February/March issue and "Western Art Collector" wrote about the artist’s trip to Alaska’s Katmai National Preserve and the cover featured his bear and salmon painting, "Shore Lunch." Daniel returns to the Quest for the West Art Show at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis in September, followed by the 25th Annual Western Visions Miniatures and More Show at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole in September. "Cowbird Companions" is an imposing yet playful portrait of the majestic American bison. His massive shoulders provide a temporary resting perch for the nearly constant companion, the cowbird. In a symbiotic relationship, cowbirds followed herds of bison through grassland to catch and eat the insects that were stirred up from the animal’s feet. Thus cowbirds were originally called buffalo birds by early trail herders and cowboys but after the bison herds were decimated, the name “cowbird” was adapted. The nomadic life of the herd prevents cowbirds from building nests and nurturing their young so they evolved into parasitic brooders, depositing their eggs in any available nest built by other species. The bison is a symbol of North America’s Native American heritage. In 1991 delegates from 19 native American tribes formed the Inter-Tribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC) whose goals is to restore the bison to millions of acres of tribal lands — and to a central place in tribal life. “To reestablish healthy buffalo populations on tribal lands is to reestablish hope for Indian people,” said Fred DuBray, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux. Give this Fine Art Edition by the masterful wildlife artist, Daniel Smith, a place of honor in your home or office.