Bird and Egg Vintage Ephemera
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The illustrations on these free printable collage sheets come from a book about rare British birds published in 1895. The vintage images feature not only cute little birds but also illustrations of each of their eggs.
Scroll all the way down and you’ll find a sheet of 2.5” x 3.5” artist trading cards (ATCs) and a sheet of larger 2.5” x 4.25” journal cards.
I have quite a few bird illustration collage sheets in my library of free printables. You might also like these cute bird illustrations, this sheet of African Birds or these adorable baby birds.
I was curious as to why the color of eggs differs so much between species of birds, so I did a little research and learned a few things.
The color of an egg is primarily determined by the genetics of the bird species laying the egg. Different bird species have different genes that control the production of pigments, which are responsible for the color of the eggshell.
Two main pigments determine the color of an eggshell: biliverdin and protoporphyrin. Biliverdin is a green pigment that is derived from bile, while protoporphyrin is a reddish-brown pigment that is produced in the shell gland of the bird's reproductive tract.
The relative amounts of these pigments in the eggshell will determine the final color of the egg. For example, blue or green eggshells are the result of a low concentration of biliverdin and a high concentration of protoporphyrin. Brown or speckled eggshells are typically the result of a high concentration of both pigments.
2.5” x 3.5” ATCs
The color of bird eggs can differ for several reasons, including camouflage, communication, and protection against predators.
Camouflage: Birds that nest in open areas may lay eggs with speckled or mottled patterns that blend in with their surroundings. This helps to protect the eggs from predators that might spot them from a distance.
Communication: For some bird species the color of their eggs communicates information to their mate or other members of their species. For example, the brightness or intensity of the color may indicate the health or fitness of the female bird, or the suitability of the nesting site.
Protection: The color of the eggshell may also serve as a form of protection against predators. For example, some species of birds that nest in trees or other high places lay eggs with blue or green shells, which are harder for predators to spot from below.
2.5” x 4.25” Journal Cards
Add these free collage sheets to your supplies for art journaling, junk journaling, bullet journaling, collage, artist trading cards (ATCs), scrapbooking and other mixed media artwork.
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You may also enjoy these free collage sheets.
Terms of use:
Free to use for personal or commercial projects. You may print the collage sheets as many times as you wish for your personal crafts or in your projects to sell, including: art journals, scrapbooks, junk journals, collage art, etc. You may not redistribute or sell the collage sheets “as is" in either print or digital form.
If you wish to share the files on your own website, please do not make the files available for download directly from your site. Instead, include an image with a link back to this site.
To the best of my knowledge, these are all royalty free images that are in the Public Domain in the US. However, you should always do your own research if you plan to use them commercially.
