While jackdaws and collared doves are thriving in the Netherlands, the house sparrow is struggling. Since 1990, the house sparrow population was reduced by half, leading the Vogelbescherming Nederland, or Dutch Society for the Protection of Birds, to place this species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. In urban areas, nesting sites and food availability decreased because of the disappearance of traditional tiled roofs, diminished urban green spaces, and the shrinking weed- and insect-rich vegetation and shrubs for shelter. My paintings highlight the harsh realities of declining bird populations in Dutch backyards, and I want to inspire the creation of more bird-friendly gardens to advocate for their survival.
