Tui Birds

Tui Birds continue to fascinate me they are so beautiful and bold. On arriving to New Zealand 20 years ago, I first heard them chattering and clicking up in the pōhutukawa trees around Eastbourne in Wellington. I was mesmerised as they swooped around calling to one another in a haunting song, unmistakable to any kiwi.

We are precious about our birds in NZ and continue to try and protect them from predators and urban sprawl, the Tui seems to be OK where I am. I have counted up to 19 in the tree over the back, we are in their flight path and they have even entered the house briefly much to everyones surprise, mainly theirs!

I have used oil sticks and scraffito to try and capture the many colours of the feathers, but what I love is the incredible speed and flight. I paint what I think are vibrations around the birds, you hear and feel a buzz when they arrive over your head. I feel we just get in their way! Enjoy the birds.