H. Douglas Pratt (American, B. 1944) "Blue-gray Noddy" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Water Color Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 32c Blue-gray Noddy stamp issued February 26, 1996. This graceful and delicate bird is unique among terns in possessing a uniform pearly-gray plumage. The Blue-gray Noddy's distribution is rather enigmatic and patchy in the North Pacific. It nests at scattered localities in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the Line Islands (Kiribati), and on Taongi and Bikar in the Marshall Islands. Rarely wandering from the islands where it nests, this bird is seldom seen at sea. Blue-gray Noddies feed in flight on small fish picked up as the birds dip and flutter over the water's surface. Their flight is light and buoyant, making them a delight to the eye. On high islands, they nest in nooks and crannies on sea cliffs, but on atolls they will lay their eggs on the ground. The Blue-gray Noddy shown in this painting is perched on the shore among typical vegetation of the Marshall Islands, including the beach morning-glory with its ephemeral pink flowers. Image Size: 5.75 x 6.75 in. Overall Size: 7.25 x 8.75 in. Unframed. (B15277)