Named for its blue eyes that match the spots on its wings, the Blue-eyed Ground-Dove was thought to be extinct for 75 years until sighted in Brazil by ornithologist, Rafael Bessa, who presented photos and audio clips. The last confirmed sighting before his was in 1941. With a population estimated at just 16 birds, organized efforts to protect these rare birds have been underway - working secretly for months to document the rediscovery and develop a conservation plan to protect the species and its habitat. The Blue-eyed Ground-Dove is found only in Brazil’s cerrado, a wooded savanna habitat that has been hard-hit by industrial agriculture. Even outpacing the deforestation rate in the Amazon rainforest, the challenge of protecting these critically endangered birds is formidable. “Dove in Magnolia Tree” is a hand-painted digital image and photo composite created in Spadecaller’s Florida Studio on 1/29/2023.