Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "Canvasback Duck" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for the Waterbirds of the 50 States Utah/Canvasback Duck. The flapping of wings sounds from above. A delighted camper looks up to see a flock of Canvasbacks moving in to land on a nearby lake. As the birds slant in for a landing, they carefully scan the waterfront for predators .. for despite their imposing size, the Canvasbacks are extremely wary creatures. They are also one of the heaviest of game ducks. This fact coupled with the birds' good flavor -- have made them a favorite of the sportsman. The Canvasbacks can be found exclusively in North Ammerica, but they are well-known throughout much of this continent. Before the first freeze, the wedge-shaped flocks take to the air. Some fly over the Great Lakes toward the Middle Atlantic Seaboard. Some head down the Mississippi River to winter on the Gulf of Mexico, while others migrate along the Columbia River to pass the colder months on the Pacific Coast. The ducks spend the winter on bays and estuaries. As the Canvasback swims about on the bay, he assumes a profile that looks very much like that of a horse. This unusual profile prompted the Indians to refer to the Canvasback as the Horse Duck. The Canvasback may dive to a depth of thirty feeet to retrieve a meal of aquatic plants. Western Canvasbacks, like those that reside in Utah, prefer a diet of wapatoo or pondweed. But, whether the Canvasback is nibbling wild celery on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland .. or enjoying pondweed on the smooth waters of Lake Powell in Utah .. he is welcome wherever he makes his home. Image Size: 10 x 12 in. Overall Size: 17.25 x 19.25 in. Unframed. (B07611)