Sibley’s Guide to Midwest Birds
by

Interview with the artist, conducted November 11, 2021.

What is the most beautiful bird in the Midwest guide? What is the most beautiful bird you’ve seen in McKinley park (Chicago neighborhood in which the artist lives)?
The Northern Cardinal and the European Starling are the most beautiful. In McKinley Park: Brown Headed Crow Bird. 

What is the most exciting bird in the guide?
Nuthatch. 

The ugliest bird?
Crow. 

The most boring bird?
Wild Turkey. 

Have you seen all of these birds in real life?
Yes (smirking). 

What bird do you most want to see, but haven’t yet seen?
Yellow Cardinal. 

What was your favorite bird to draw?
Red-Crested Nuthatch. 

What is the most interesting bird behavior you’ve observed?
Once there were some birds who were fighting at the feeder in my backyard over bird seed. I also like watching Nuthatches because they are fast and move their bodies in funny ways. I’ve also seen a House Sparrow chase a beetle.

Do you think birds are the best animals? Why or why not?
Birds are the best animals, because they can fly: south, west, east, or north. If I could be any bird I’d be either a Bald Eagle or a Double-crested Cormorant.

The American Dream/Fear of Cars
In fact, what you really need is a minivan—one that will fit your four kids on a hot day while you drive in circles at the mall. But you can’t go in yet, only quiet children get to shop.
University of Chicago Folk Festival to Bob Dylan: “You ain’t it, babe!”
Mouse Magazine has reason to speculate the snub of Bob Dylan by soon-to-be dropout college commies is what inspired the famous spite ballad “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” and changed music and American history, forever.
Mu’adib, or The Cyclist
Gaudi Ramone https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ciclonudista_Zaragoza_2011_002.jpg#Licensing
Sing lycra, of the wanderers