Rainbows Take Flight

Pastel on Pastelmat board ($POA)

94 cm W x 54 cm H
Loud, belligerent colonies of rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus) are the soundtrack of urban Australia. They are often seen in fast-moving screeching flocks or gathering in huge, noisy numbers inhabiting large blossoming trees in local parks or backyards. The noise can be deafening. In many places, including campsites and suburban gardens, wild lorikeets are so used to humans that they can be hand-fed, although many people, ignorant of their dietary requirements, feed them bread or bread coated with honey. This is an inadequate source of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that the rainbow lorikeet requires and can lead to health and feather formation issues in young lorikeets. Sadly, this is just another example of how human interaction can negatively affect our precious wildlife. I have created this artwork from a compilation of images, intending to show the rainbow lorikeets’ unmistakable patchwork of colours in a variety of flight positions and focus.