Annelisa Ochoa

Egyptian Vulture | Endangered

Paintings for Plumage was born in 2019, when I saw a friend's photo of an Egyptian Vulture. She had taken it while traveling through Nepal. I was captivated.

I needed to paint it. I needed to show it to people, I needed to tell them about the vultures!!

I knew something had been missing from my art process. For decades I have been making and selling art to all walks of life and for all uses. But it was missing something.. I was missing something. I realized this while painting the Egyptian Vulture "NEKHBET"

The profit percentage donation from this painting went to the Vulture Conservation Fund, learn more about their efforts here.

Storm’s Stork | Endangered

Currently numbering below a population of 1,750, the Storm’s Stork has held an endangered status since 1994. It is widely considered to be one of the rarest storks in the world.

Its population is on the decline.

They are threatened primarily from deforestation due to logging, dam construction or land conversion (for palm oil plantations) activities.

There is no species specific conservation or recovery plan in place as of the last survey in 2023. Though https://rhinoandforestfund.org/ is working to protect the wetland and habitat that this fabulous animals lives in.

Whooping Crane | Critically Endangered

How can that be ? I said to myself after starting this painting, only 50-249 ? While there is theoretically enough birds left to maintain genetic diversity, it’s on the edge.

The good news is that the population does seem to be very slowly increasing thanks to conservation efforts by the Unites States wildlife management. There has been a recover act in place for over fifty years.

Many of the states that this crane calls home have been working hard to improve the population though wetlands management and breeding programs.

There’s hope.

Read more about the U.S Fish and Wildlife Services conservation program and efforts here.

The Sand Hill Crane and it’s absolutely fabulous migration route !

These cranes fly from Norther Canada to Mexico every year ! They can have a wing span of up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) as they coast along the air.

I have had the good pleasure of living in multiple states along their migration path. Including Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska.

The sounds of them leaving always bring a year to my eye. I know not far off is winter, and I eagerly await their return.

Unique to the americas, the Great horned owl is truly a magical animal.

They have been known to be active in both the day and night, but the majority of their hunting is nocturnal.

This Watcher is observing the cloudy end of fall on their aspen branch, knowing soon it will have to listen for small mammals under the snow.

Hooded Vulture | Critically Endangered

This painting was created exclusively for HawkWatch International to support their annual auction/fundraiser in spring 2025, “Wings Over the West of Africa.”

The painting honors the hooded vulture and the work of, Abiola Chaffra. Chaffra won theirGlobal Raptor Research and Conservation Grant,and works exclusively with the hooded vulture in Africa. 

To learn more about Abiolas work, click here.

Barn Owl | Least Concern

Sophie; Greek word Sophie which means wisdom.

Owls are often associated with wisdom and knowledge. I love hearing their call in the evening at my parents home in the great plains of west.

It’s a haunting call, yet not lonely. Their soundless flight facilitated by specially formed feathers unique to owls alone.

I hope you have had the chance to listen to these night hunters. Magical, silently floating through the trees on unseen currents.

Golden Eagle | Least Concern

While they are considered “least concern,” the Golden Eagle still only numbers between 85,000-160,000, according to the ICUN Red list for endangered species.

I have had the good fortune to have been watching the same family of Goldens for most of my life. My grandparents had a pair that nested in the cliffs behind their property in the west, and we have watch them return, nest, learn to fly and hunt for generations now.

Such a gift.

Golden eagles have a wingspan of 6 feet, 6 inches (1.98 meters). They have feathering that extends down to their toes. They are a protected species, and can live up to 30 years in the wild.

If you have ever seen one, you likely wont forget it.