Chuck Ripper: White-breasted Silver-eye

Artist: Chuck Ripper
1929 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1993
Image Size: 12.25 by 14.5 inches
Overall Size: 15 by 17.75 inches
Medium: Gouche Water Color on Masonite

Naturalists today are not quick to designate any creature as being extinct. For example, the black-footed ferret of the western United States was presumed to have vanished decades ago, but in recent years a small colony was located in a remote area of Wyoming. These creatures are now being bred in secure surroundings for eventual release into the wild, in the hope that they can be permanently reestablished. Perhaps the same will someday be true for the White-breasted Silver-eye, a small songbird native to Norfolk Island in the southwest Pacific. Once locally abundant, the White-breasted Silver-eye has been impacted by predation from rats and especially by human activities on Norfolk Island. Since the establishment of a penal colony there in 1788, more than 99 percent of the 13-square-mile island's original rain forest has been cleared. Today only a small patch of untouched forest survives. In 1962, a week-long search for White-breasted Silver-eyes in that area yielded only three sightings. Seven years later, single birds were observed on two occasions. But since 1980, none have been seen. Still, examples like that of the black-footed ferret give hope to those who believe this delightful bird might survive and one day return to Norfolk Island in its former abundance.

This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover of the United Nations Endangered Species Series S7 White-breasted Silver-eye stamp issued March 18, 1994.

Artwork Copyright © 1993 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): XB14625

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