Painted: April 1, 2017
(This mural has since been removed.)
About the Bird: Those long ear tufts help to break up this owl鈥檚 outline, adding to its camouflage as it hides in dense cover during daylight hours. Widespread but always scarce, Long-eared Owls seem oddly choosy in their precise habitats. A warming climate is likely to change local conditions in their current strongholds, causing them to lose ground.
About the Artist: Painter lives and works in Queens. His art, which often invites the viewer to peer into private scenes, has been included in numerous national shows and was recently featured as a solo exhibition at the Fortnight Institute. 鈥I have never seen an owl in the wild,鈥 says Burak, "although I have heard them many times before. I chose this bird because I find its mysterious and elusive nature fascinating.鈥
Former Location: