Gippsland is a sanctuary where the air is woven with birdsong and the heady perfume of wildflowers. My family’s devotion to these winged wonders led us to build an aviary of our own, yet the borders between our home and the wild are thin; we are constantly graced by the company of native visitors. These feathered spirits have become my soul’s favorite subject. Indeed, the avian life here is so diverse and enchanting that my acrylics and pastels often feel too humble to capture their full brilliance.