The Ruddy Shelduck is a member of the duck, goose and swan family, Anatidae. The ruddy shelduck breeds in south-eastern Europe, east through southern and central Asia to Mongolia and western China, with separate populations in northwest Africa and Ethiopia. In the Himalayas, it splits its time between two spots: they hang out south of the Tibetan Plateau during the winter, and nest north of the Himalayan mountain range in the summer. Their migration route requires them to fly as high as 22,000 feet. Avoiding areas with dense, and tall vegetation, the ruddy shelduck is usually found around freshwater, salty and brackish lakes and rivers in open country. During the breeding season the ruddy shelduck inhabits areas distant from water, but outside of the breeding season it prefers to reside near streams, slow-flowing rivers, freshwater pools, flooded grasslands, and marshes. “Ruddy Shelducks” is a Spadecaller digital painting and composite.