Tree Sparrow & Teasel
Robert Bateman Hand Signed Limited Edition Print 9″ x 12″
Edition Size: 950
“The word ‘tree’ is misleading when applied to the tree sparrow since this little bird is seldom found in trees, but usually found on the ground. The nests are often on the ground but may be in low trees or bushes. They nest in a broad swath of North America from Alaska to Labrador, therefore the majority of people see them only in winter,
Like other sparrows, the tree sparrow feeds on seeds. They are of great benefit to farmers because of the weed seeds they devour. It was estimated that they consumed 875 tonnes of weed seeds annually in Iowa alone.
The teasel is considered a native ‘weed’, which I prefer to call a wild meadow plant. The seed head is a spectacular cone of spines and was used in pioneer days for carding wool. I also always found the leaves visually attractive – rather like metal sculpture.” Robert Bateman
(From the original painting Tree Sparrow & Teasel – 2011 – 9″ x 12″ Oil on Board)
