"A Bird's Eye View at the California Raptor Center on Old Davis Road, Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Making of 'A Bird's Eye View' at the Raptor Center

What was once a blank wall on the visitors' center at the California Raptor Center on Old Davis Road, Davis, is now a full-fledged ceramic-mosaic mural that tells the story of the interdependence of raptors and insects.

It's the brainchild of UC Davis distinguished professor Diane Ullman of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, who teaches Entomology 001, "Art, Science and the World of Insects." She and colleague Gale Okumura, a Department of Design lecturer emerita, led the project. Not only did Ullman's students participate, but so did faculty and members of the community.

It measures 22-feet wide and eight-feet in height and is comprised or more than 1300 handmade ceramic relief artworks, tiles and trim pieces. 

The project celebrates "11 key raptor species found in California and 84 insect species that are either parasites of these raptors or eaten by them,” Ullman says.

See news story on the Department of Entomology and Nematology website.

The project started out as a blank wall. This is the visitors' center at the California Raptor Center on Old Davis Road, Davis.
Preparing the site for the massive wall mural.
Plans being formulated for 'The Bird's Eye View."
Making preparations for the massive art project. From left are project designers-leaders Diane Ullman and Gale Okumura with volunteer Teresa Slack. (Photo courtesy of the Diane Ullman-Gale Okumura Project)
Workers begin installing the project.
Artists working on 'A Bird's Eye View' in the Diane Ullman classroom.
UC Davis distinguished professor Diane Ullman (left) of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and Gale Okumura, Design Department lecturer emerita.
Gale Okumura (left) and Diane Ullman point to some of the art they created. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Sign lettered with 'A Bird's Eye View'

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Diane Ullman Gale Okumura California Raptor Center