Some bird species are common and even on the rise, while others are becoming increasingly rare as their habitat needs are compromised in an ever more intensively exploited landscape. Many of these species require protection to survive.
I created these bird illustrations specifically for a consulting agency that utilizes them in environmental impact assessment reports. My work helps highlight the importance of these species and the need for conservation efforts.
I often find myself watching birds while hiking alone in the forest. However, birdwatching can also be a wonderfully social experience. The shared love for wild birds has the power to bring people together. Birdwatching groups and societies frequently take the initiative to protect the habitats where rare species reside, contributing to the preservation of our planet’s natural diversity.
Attending the Asian Bird Fair in Jingshan, China and later in Chiayi, Taiwan, truly opened a new world for me. It was incredibly inspiring to connect with bird enthusiasts and naturalists from diverse cultural backgrounds, with only a small minority being Westerners. Despite our differences, we all shared a common passion for nature, which renewed my belief that there is hope for the world!
For our stand at the Asian Bird Fair, I created a series of simplified bird illustrations that I later showcased at other events, such as the Fiets en Wandelbeurs (Hiking and Biking Fair) in the Netherlands.
Breginjski Stol, a mountain ridge in western Slovenia, is one of the last bastions for Rock partridges in the country, yet only a few pairs remain. Their decline is primarily due to the abandonment of summer sheep grazing, which has led to thick grass and bush overgrowth.
I often find myself daydreaming about becoming a shepherd and guiding a flock of sheep to such beautiful places. This could greatly benefit both nature conservation and the preservation of cultural heritage. Maybe one day?
The drawing I created while envisioning this project remains close to my heart, and I still wear a T-shirt featuring this design. Who knows what the future holds?
The international project DinaRis raised awareness about the precarious status of the lynx population in Slovenia, Croatia, and Hungary from 2000 to 2006. For this initiative, I contributed artwork for an exhibition that featured posters and interactive elements.
While the project’s message was undeniably serious, I managed to incorporate a lighter touch in the corners of the posters. There, Jayson the Jay provided a humorous perspective on the topic. In one poster, he donned a hunter’s hat adorned with bright blue Eurasian jay feathers, and in another, he playfully wore hunter’s socks to disguise his footprints!
