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2006 - The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) is a medium-sized blackbird, very similar in appearance to the Eastern Meadowlark.

Adults have yellow underparts with a black "V" on the breast and white flanks with black streaks. The upperparts are mainly brown with black streaks. They have a long pointed bill; the head is striped with light brown and black.

Their breeding habitat is grasslands and prairie, also pastures and abandoned fields, across western and central North America to northern Mexico. Where their range overlaps with the eastern species, these birds prefer thinner, drier vegetation; the two birds generally do not interbreed but do defend territory against each other. The nest is on the ground, covered with a roof woven from grasses. There may be more than one nesting female in a male's territory.

These birds are permanent residents throughout much of their range. Northern birds migrate to the southern parts of the range; some birds also move east...

Drawing and creating art for all her life, Ana studied fine art first at BealArt (London, ON) then at York University (Toronto) and graphic design at George Brown College (Toronto). Ana worked as a graphic designer, illustrator, art director, and web designer for many years before going back to her first love of fine art and portraiture. Ana was drawn to coloured pencils after the birth of her son, Alexander. She wanted a medium that would allow versatility but would not mess up the walls and furniture by little fingers. The more she worked the pencils, the more she fell in love with them. She was intrigued by the versatility and luminescence of the medium. Coloured pencils allow her to combine the eloquence of painting with the control...