For the last forty moons I’ve called Hawaiʻi home. Now, at age 60, I’m stepping into my next chapter. There’ll be no fixed address for a while, the only constant will be my sketchbook and the pull of what’s next.
In preparation for an upcoming adventure Down Under, three birds have been on my mind. Below are the quick sketches, one of which I’ll move to a finished piece.
The Eastern Bristlebird is a shy, ground-dwelling songbird, slipping through dense bristles and rarely taking flight—it has the sad distinction of being Queensland’s most endangered bird, with only about 40 left in the wild.
The Swift Parrot is a restless wanderer, migrating up to 2,000 km each year from Tasmania to mainland Australia’s wintering forests—fewer than 300 individuals remain, threatened by shrinking habitat and predators.
The Kookaburra, not endangered but unmistakably Australian, laughs through the treetops. I’ve never seen one, but I’ve heard them when I camped in Kosciuszko and in the Blue Mountains. Hopefully I’ll get to spot one this trip.
These three birds remind me of key lessons: the Bristlebird celebrates the value of quiet observation, the Swift Parrot inspires me to embrace wanderlust, and the Kookaburra reminds me to seek joy and laughter every day. So, from an art perspective, I wonder which one I’ll take to to the finish line 🙂 …
Next stop: Seattle for a few weeks then onto the beautiful Blue Mountains NSW, AU 🦘❤️
Farewell, Hawaiʻi.
Hello, adventure.
#watercolor #endangered #NSW #birds
Inga J Smith 