Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree...

After my post yesterday about our local Kookaburra family, and Julie's questions about their nest, I thought I would take a photo to show the hollow they nest in each year. I couldn't believe my luck when I managed to get a shot of one of the birds leaving the hollow, what luck! Thanks Julie for your interest, I got a great photo :) We are lucky enough to have quite a lot of natural bush land next to and behind our house which we walk in all the time, this tree is actually in our neighbour's block but it is closer to our house. This tree has been eaten from the inside out by termites and I wonder how deep inside the actual nest is. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the photos, feel free to use them as references, cheers!

Australian Song

The birds in this piece are Kookaburra's, they are reasonably common here and are well known for their call which sounds like raucous laughter. At the moment their favourite time of the day to sing is about 4.30am! This will be my last large painting of the year,  a commission that I have really enjoyed as these birds are such an Aussie icon. We have a pair that returns to nest next to our house every year and it's always exciting to see them venture out with their chick for the first time. I see them most mornings, during their 'shift change', they meet each other on the same tree branch, have a little song and grooming session...then one goes to look after their baby and one goes to hunt. :) Cheers

Ending the art year on a high :)

Hi all! Just finished up the last exhibition of the year, the Armadale Society of Artists is the wonderful club I have belonged to since 2008. They are such a great, supportive group of people and I owe them a lot :) I was lucky enough to receive First Prize for 'Message in a Bottle', the 'Tony Buti Award' (sponsored by our local politician) for 'Podargus Biology' and I just found out...the People's Choice Award for 'A Crash Course in Whimsy'! To top it all off, I sold a painting and a drawing...I am so grateful for all the support I have had from this club, I would urge anyone who has a local art club or society near them to join, the benefits can't be measured and there is also often the opportunity to give back to the community through being involved with something local :) We are all so involved with being online these days (not that that is a bad thing either) sometimes we forget what is just outside our door...cheers!