Kimberly Beck 
Oil
12 x 23
This piece has been juried into “Birds in Art” which is considered the premier exhibition of bird art in the world held at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. About 100 works are selected from thousands of artists. 
 
“One day, while observing a group of young quail chicks, I watched the mother luxuriate in a dust bath before suddenly calling out to her brood in alarm.  The chicks immediately gathered in a formation and settled their bodies into the sand, heads pointing inwards.  Huddled together, their feathers blended, mimicking a craggy desert sage bush - presumably a defense tactic to foil predators and keep them safe.  After a few minutes, the chicks began socializing but remained in the formation.  Witnessing the intimate moment and the female quail’s sense of pride, I added her to the formation’s edge."