Pastel on Colourfix paper

36 X 52 cm.

Last week I had some fun with bronze wing pigeons here in our back garden. Bronzies have always been one of my favourite birds and living with them around the back door is a real treat for an Australian wildlife artist. This particular male (you can tell he is a male by his tan forehead patch which females lack) is very happy to mosey around the garden pathways picking up any seeds or other munchies the rosellas and finches may have overlooked. He doesn't even mind taking a bath in the fountain which graces the Japanese garden.... the best bit on hot days is I can sit there with him while he even goes to sleep standing up to his tummy in the cool water......doesn't mind me one bit.  I reckon I must be just about the most fortunate wildlife artist I know.

This pastel painting shows him perched happily in our golden ash tree near the back door......having fed and bathed to his pigeon heart's content he then settled in to dry his feathers.