Gene Jarvis: Madagascar Fody

Artist: Gene Jarvis
1921 - 1990
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1978
Image Size: 9.5 by 9 inches
Overall Size: 12.75 by 12.5 inches
Medium: Pen and Ink on Hot Press Illustration Board

The tiny, red Madagascar Fody in his breeding plumage is a bright spot of color in the forests. He is a member of the family Ploceidae or Weavers. Many of these birds are very sociable and breed in definite colonies. However, the Madagascar Fody, like all Madagascar Weavers, lives in monogamy. Another interesting feature of the Weaver family is their beaks which are small, conical, and relatively thick at the base. These beaks help the birds build their artfully woven nests, many of which are built on the warp and woof principle. Certain Weavers construct "apartment house" nests where from one hundred to three hundred bird couples live in separate flask-shaped champbers. The Madagascar Fody, however, builds an elongated, round nest that is not an apartment style dwelling. Though most of the Weavers live south of the Sahara Desert in Africa, the small Fody finds his native home in Madagascar. Originally, he lived only in this native home, but in recent years he is often seen in St. Helena, the Mascarene and Chago Islands, Seychelles, the Comoros, and other islands in the Indian Ocean. Zoologists believe that the Madagascar Weavers were introudced to these other locations by man, who either purposefully or accidentally carried the birds across the sea. Interestingly, there are only six living species of Madagascar Weavers, and there is a seventh species that has become extinct. This extinct species is known today only through an eighteenth century illustration. The Fody thrives on insects.

This artwork was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the Seychelles 1Re Madagascar Fody stamp issued November 10, 1977.

Artwork Copyright © 1978 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): XB05437

US$ Price: $950.00

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