About the Artist
My name is Lynn Bantley, and I am the artist that produces the illustrations found on this site. I’ve always had an interest in art, as a kid drawing various characters in pencil, but did not pursue a career in art.
I received a B.S. degree in geology in 1986, and worked for a short time in that industry, moving then to the land surveying and civil engineering world. During that time, creating some pen and ink drawings in my free time, mostly for myself, but also for the sport of triathlon.
In 1992, I decided that I would start my own consulting business in the civil/survey industry, and for years created topographic maps and engineering drawings. The industry began to move from the old-fashioned ink and mylar, to using CAD systems to create the plans and maps.
While doing this CAD work, I began dabbling with a graphic design program, as well as some website design and coding. I was really drawn to the graphic design work for the artistic satisfaction, and to web development to fulfill my desires for the technical side of my brain.
Finding design and development very fulfilling, I eased my way out of the civil/survey world, and went on to create my current company, Bantley Design, devoted to web development and graphic design.
But...but...what about the birds?
About 25 years ago, I began volunteering for a raptor research organization in the San Francisco Bay Area — the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory. There I developed an intense love and fascination for birds of prey primarily, but also for “other” birds. Birds are cool!
The illustrations on this site came about from a desire to create artwork for t-shirts for the GGRO. Each year, I develop a new design that is offered to the 300 or so volunteers, friends and families, and helps in a small way to support this dedicated group.
Over the years, I have created a growing series of illustrations, and am now approaching a broader audience offering those designs for sale as prints so that people can enjoy the unique illustrations in their home or office.
Thank you for your interest in Cool Bird Art!
Artist with a recently banded Red-tailed Hawk ready to continue on its migration.
About the GGRO
For over 30 years, the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) has been a program of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in cooperation with the National Park Service.
The GGRO’s mission is to inspire the preservation of California raptor populations. The GGRO was formed in the early 1980s to track the Golden Gate migration, an annual flight of tens of thousands of hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures, birds collectively called “raptors.”
The GGRO’s reason for being is to conduct long-term studies of the seasonal movements of birds of prey along the Pacific Coast, particularly over the Marin Headlands, to further the understanding and preservation of raptor populations.
As a part of our dedication to conservation, we are committed to public education. Our volunteers learn much about raptor ecology as they are trained to be citizen scientists for our projects. We also use Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands as a living classroom for children and adults alike. Our educational programs have reached many thousands of people over the past 25 years.
Visit the GGRO website for more information.