Ponderings

Pastel on Pastelmat (Sold)

63 cm W x 83 cm H
My hometown has an abundance of Australian pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus), and in fact the Australia Seabird Rescue was founded and based here through the conservation work of a wonderful man Lance Ferris, whom locals affectionately knew as “The Pelican Man”. Lance’s work started in 1992 after he noticed many pelicans injured by fishing line and hooks.  Pelicans were rescued, rehabilitated, and released.  His work soon extended from pelicans to other coastal birds as well as marine turtles. As I was involved in Bird Rehabilitation myself at the time, I often crossed paths with Lance. He was passionate about educating the community, especially school children and fisher-folk, to preserve and protect the coastal environment and all marine wildlife. Australian Seabird Rescue (one of my chosen charities) now works around Australia to protect and rescue seabirds and shorebirds. Seeing pelicans serenely gliding along our waterways, still gives me great delight.