Annelisa Ochoa

Secretarybird | Endangered

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

Secretarybirds are classified as Endangered, with populations rapidly declining due to habitat loss, climate change, and direct threats such as collisions with fences, power lines, and more recently, with wind turbines.

Despite their conservation status, critical knowledge gaps remain. Understanding the causes of breeding failures, identifying ways to improve nesting success, assessing responses to climate change, and learning about their movement ecology are essential for informing effective conservation strategies.*

The painting honors the secretarybird of Africa and the work of, HawkWatch International in their efforts to observe and track these amazing birds.

To learn more about the tracking work, click here.



*information taken from HWI

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.

VERREAUX’S EAGLE | LEAST CONCERN


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

With a wingspan of up to 2.3 metres and a weight of between 3 and 7kg, the Verreaux’s Eagle (also known as the African Black Eagle) is one of the three biggest eagles to be found in South Africa (the others being the Crowned and Martial Eagles). Females are slightly larger than males. 

The number on the painting is the population number in South Africa provided (thank you) by HWI. As a complete population number is not available at the time of writing. 

While the species is in the "Least Concern" category according to the IUCN red list, they still merit attention as their numbers still sit only in the tens of thousands.

Hawkwatch International, in coordination with Dr Megan Murgatroyd, has been using GPS tracking to understand and predict wind turbine collision risk for Verreaux’s Eagles in order to minimise the negative impacts of development on this species.* 

To find out more, or to help support this effort, please visit Hawkwatch International.

*Sourced from HWI

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.

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.

ANDEAN FLAMINGO | VULNERABLE

While making this painting I fell in love with these pink birds. Brilliant animals, thought found out the old saying “they are pink because they eat shrimp” is only a half truth.

The are link because the algae, plankton, crustaceans, and brine shrimp they eat contain carotenoids!

What is a carotenoid ? One might ask (I know I did)

Well according to the oxford dictionary it is “any of a class of mainly yellow, orange, or red fat-soluble pigments, including carotene, which give colour to plant parts such as ripe tomatoes and autumn leaves.” and if found in the various food that they eat.

These fabulous animals are listed as vulnerable because of human impact ranging from mining to pollution. Part of the efforts to understand just all the ways that they are being effected has led conservation communities to track their migration and habits.

Let us hope they succeed in identifying the many causes for their decline. Then we can take efforts to do better as a species for not just the flamingoes, but all that we share this planet with.

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.

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.