Migratory Bird Sculptures

The bird sculptures are made from material washed up on the beach; burnt timber, coral, sea glass, barnacles, shells, seaweed and coffee rock. The birds are adorned with headdresses that symbolise ceremony, place, love and loss.

The sculptures developed from an interest in migratory birds and the vast distances they travel each year for breeding. So much of our changing climate and landscapes affect the journey and survival of these magnificent birds. Their ancient flight paths and feeding grounds are under threat due to urban, industrial and agricultural over-uses.

Each year, millions of shorebirds fly about 25,000 km following ancient flight paths from Australia to the Artic, Alaska, Siberia, Japan or Mongolia and back again to breed. Often flying non-stop without food or water. By the time a shorebird is 15 years old they will have flown the equivalent distance to the moon during migration. That’s 384,400 km. https://wingthreads.com/

About 10 years ago thousands of migratory seabirds were washed up on the beaches of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Many were dead, others exhausted and emaciated. Apparently, this is a natural phenomenon that occurs periodically, due to being caught in storms, changing and unusual weather patterns. 

It was devastating to witness thousands of dead and dying birds on the beach. I began researching migratory birds and their flyways. One day when walking on the beach, I found a charred branch from a recent bush fire washed into shallow water and sand. The charred and charcoal texture looked like the feathered body of a bird.  I saw such beauty and sadness in this uniquely formed branch, and so began my love affair to create migratory birds.