Kay Breeden Williams: Masked Woodswallow

Artist: Kay Breeden Williams
1939 -
Nationality: Australian
Artwork Year: 1980
Image Size: 14.125 by 12 inches
Overall Size: 16 by 15 inches
Medium: Water Color on Cold Press Illustration Board

Perhaps best known for its insect-hunting qualities, the Masked Woodswallow is common throughout Australia. During what can be devastating locust plagues, these fascinating birds organize in flocks of one hundred or more individuals. With pointed wings, which give them the ability to fly extremely fast and to make long glides and swerves, they fly to the plagued area. Then, using their long, downward-curving beaks and wide mouths, they devour locusts by the thousands. Like Swallows, they chase after other insects, too, sometimes flying very high in the air, and making a nasal, chattering noise while doing so. The Masked Woodswallow also resembles the Starling in that it roosts in tree-top colonies. Despite these similarities, however, the Masked Woodswallow is a member of the family Artamidae and is not in any way related to either the Swallow or the Starling. Also known as the Blue Martin, The Bush Martin and the Skimmer, this bird moves nomadically north to south, generally breeding south of Barkly Tableland and Kimberleys. The breeding season lasts from August to December, but breeding can also take place after a good rain. The nest is loosely constructed and consists of twigs, grass stems and rootlets gathered in bushes or palm trees. It is filled with two or three oval, whitish-gray to pale greenish-gray eggs with brown markings. Masked Woodswallows are not shy and can often be seen near cities.

This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the Australia 45¢ Masked Woodswallow stamp issued July 1, 1980.

Artwork Copyright © 1980 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB06057

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