Author(s): Fiona Lumsden

Australian Natural History

170 species in habitat, featuring iconic Sydney flora and a wealth of bird species from this very rich and rewarding area for birdwatchers and nature lovers.

2 years in the draft and research stage, brush was first applied to the heavy watercolour paper in October 2011. All hand-painted and hand-numbered on one sheet of 600 gsm cotton paper, each pose was initially from the artist's imagination to enable an aesthetic flow to a very elaborate composition. Each bird species was then carefully researched (with 6 books open at once) to try to ensure an accurate but artistic interpretation of the many bird species that Sydney is still lucky to have. 40 years of birdwatching experience in the field was of course a help, but brushing up on seabirds meant pelagic seabirding trips to the edge of the continental shelf (and several lost lunches!).

Choice of species to depict was tricky. Birds are, of course, rather mobile creatures and populations change with time. Unfortunately there are species now so regionally rare that they had to be left off. The artist hopes this trend doesn't continue. On the other hand, new species have moved in. However Fiona hasn't put on man-introduced species. She wanted it to be a natural amalgamation of species and habitats and she hopes to encourage people to get out and enjoy (and fight to preserve) the beautiful remaining patches of bush around the city.

Habitats shown include: Sydney Angophora (Sydney Red Gum) bushland, Sydney Blue Gum forest, Cabbage-tree Palm and Lilly-pilly rainforest, heathland, mangrove, freshwater lake, shore, sea cliffs and harbour. Many iconic Sydney plants (large and small) are shown. Also sneaking in are some mammals, reptiles, frogs, insects and marine life. Even fungi.