The Common Loon (Gavia immer) abound in Maine, always willing to serenade the occasional visitors to their lakes and ponds, their distinct language echoing over the water. Loons are aquatic birds frequently found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are territorial and tend to be reclusively shy. They are fantastic swimmers, using their feet to propel themselves above and under water while using their wings for assistance. Because their feet are far back on the body, loons are not well adapted to moving on land. They usually avoid coming ashore, except for nesting. Loons are good flyers but usually lack grace when taking off or landing. Some say their landings are more like a controlled crash-glide. B.L. Ander approaches the loons very carefully with his kayak equipped with a long lens camera at the ready. There have been many occasions where the usually shy birds will come close to his boat, maybe recognizing the artist as a friend, not a threat. Loon art taken to bird print.

B.L. Ander has a love for bird art, spending a great deal of time studying birds in the wild as well as in bird sanctuaries. His limited edition bird art collection is dedicated to our winged neighbors. When still a young child, B.L. Ander spent countless hours studying and duplicating the wildlife prints of John James Audubon, which was the beginning of a life-long tendency toward bird art. He enjoys the challenges of creating bird art in various mediums and styles.