Growing up in New Zealand and living close to native bushland, observing nature has always been part of my life.
Now resident in Melbourne, Australia I live in Mitcham an eastern suburb with a nearby park, Halliday Park, which hosts a surprising variety of birdlife, Yarran Dheran Nature Reserve, 8 hectares of remnant bushland, Heatherdale bushland, and Somers Trail. All these and many other green spaces within a 25km radius provide unlimited opportunities to observe and photograph both urban and wild birdlife and animals. I became interested in photographing birds last year, (2020) during one of Melbourne's many lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. For most of the year we were restricted to 5km for allowed exercise for one hour a day. One of the first birds I photographed was a Superb Parrot. Capturing clear photos of such a colourful bird created a need to further document the wildlife around me.
I have numerous spinal fractures which means 24/7 pain and some days it is a struggle to walk. At times during the past 11 years I have suffered from hereditary osteoporosis which underpins these non-traumatic spinal fractures, I have been unable to get into or out of a bed, and so have slept in a chair. I have managed many photos of a wide range of birds from within the bedroom and living room, shooting through the windows. Pursuing the next previously unsighted bird has got me out of the house, provided needed exercise, and while I am in "hunt" mode, my pain and lack of mobility tend to be forgotten. I just have to be careful not to slip or fall, as my medical specialist is adamant a fall could lead to life in a wheelchair, or worse.