Research

Reference Photographs and Video links 

Below are some examples of the images Im using to better understand the anatomy and exact appearance of the animals and plants for my Great Lakes Alvars image.

Upland Sandpiper

A relatively small bird that feeds largely on a diet of insects and depends on prairies as its main habitat for hunting. It is largely widespread around the US but the loss of prairies to farmland has affected the size of its population greatly in recent years. It is still, however, listed as an animal of 'least concern' on the IUCN List of Endangered Animals.







Loggerhead Shrike 

A small yet quite predatory bird that has been donned its name due to the large size of his head in comparison to its body. It has also been called the Butcherbird because it has tendencies of eating field mice, lizards and other small birds among other creatures. Its nickname however comes because of its lack of talons, which is needed to eat this type of prey. It instead impales its prey on barbed wire or spiky trees where it is much easier to then tear it apart Despite this behaviour, throughout the year its diet in very largely comprised of insects and seeds.




Dwarf Lake Iris

This plant, like it name suggests is very small, reaching a height of roughly 10 cm. It is one of the life forms in this illustration that is truly threatened and lives in a region of the Great Lakes Alvars. I could not deduce, because there wasn't any information, if it has a direct relation to any of the other species chosen for the illustration. I imagine, as I've included species of butterfly, that these depend on the nectar of this flower to some extent and therefore directs the birds that feed on them. It is a stunning little flower.





Ram's head Ladyskipper


This is a very unusual small flowering plant that is also characteristic of the alvars. It is a type of orchid and considered very rare. The plant is considered threatened as well and it grows to a maximum height of 30 cm, but can flower at a younger maturity.





Cooper's Milkvetch 


Yet another endangered plant that is found in the Alvars. This plant grows on prairie-woodland ecotone as well as riverbanks, ravines, and lakeshore. They grow up to 3 feet tall. This plant is a  flowering and fruiting one. Its flowers are small and white.