Turtle Tears and Butterfly

I visited the Manu Biosphere Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon in 2013. Among the many wonders I saw along the Madre de Dios River were butterflies drinking the tears of Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtles. They are after the salt in the tears, which is an essential nutrient lacking in this part of the Amazon. Many different kiinds of butterflies flutter around the turtles as they sun themselves on logs and sandbars.Tthe turtles don't seem to mind. On my return I used some of these images to create this 19" x 19" copper-foiled window for our new bathroom. The design is a mix of my own photos and memories.The butterfly is a clearwing Nymphalidae and was one of the larger butterflies I saw drinkng the turtles tears. 

• copper foil
• solder
• art glass
• copper wire