In March this year I was invited to participate in a travelling exhibition aimed at raising awareness about the pending destruction of the Bimblebox Nature Refuge, and the threat to the bird species inhabiting that refuge. Participating artists were each assigned a bird from the habitat. Mine was the Leaden Flycatcher. On first consideration this bird seemed rather uninteresting. However after research I realised that it is a fascinating creature. It catches its food (flies) ‘on the wing’, i.e., in flight, showing considerable dexterity and agility. The stocky little bird presents in two distinct gender based colours – a blue throat for males and orange for females. It is also known as the frog bird on account of its guttural, croak like cry. Whilst not actually an endangered species, and in fact quite widespread across the east coast of Australia, we need to protect the habitat for species like these now, to avoid them becoming tomorrow’s endangered birds.  As we all appreciate in theory, the protection of natural habitat should be a prime directive for governments, for the benefit of current and future generations of wild life and human kind. The challenge posed to the Bimblebox Nature Refuge by a looming coal mine is indicative of the broader struggle between short term commercial interests, and the current and longer term benefits of preserving such spaces. I congratulate the organisers of the Bimblebox 153 exhibition on their efforts to draw attention to the challenge, and preserve the nature refuge.

This print was made in honour of Penny Taylor (1965-2014), a passionate bush walker and nature enthusiast.