Parliamentary Debate

This is one of a series of paintings that use the owl to explore ways of knowing. This burrowing owl family (Athena cunicularia) grips its owl page from an old birding book and stares at the viewer as though ready to dispute any notion we might have about them. One of the few species of owl to be active during the day, it actually does burrow underground. They were once very common across the prairies, but are in decline mostly due to habitat loss. Incidentally, a group of owls is known as a "parliament".