New Zealand has so many amazing conservation groups working hard for our native birds, and one that is very special for me is Wingspan Birds of Prey Centre. Wingspan is my favourite place to go in Rotorua, as you’re able to get close encounters with native birds of prey, such as morepork/ruru (native NZ owl), NZ falcon/kārearea, Australasian harrier/kāhu and barn owl.

Wingspan is a charitable trust dedicated to conservation, education, and research of our special birds of prey. I’d visited Wingspan in 2019 and met Whisper, their most well-known Ruru, and took some photos of her which I absolutely loved.

One photo in particular I had as my phone lock screen for the first half of 2020, and couldn’t wait to draw it as a large scale (A2 size) artwork. Having time to only draw one non-commission piece for the year, it was an easy decision for what I wanted to draw. In early September when it was nearing completion I reached out to Wingspan, to see if I could do a fundraiser for them, and was given the sad news that Whisper had just passed away that very morning. Having raised her from an egg that was brought to them 13 years prior, this was a terrible time for the Wingspan team, and so I was glad that the artwork was able to become a tribute and bring some happiness to those who loved her.

One of my primary goals as an artist is to raise awareness and funds for conservation organisations doing great things, and I was so proud to be able to donate 30% of the first two weeks of Whisper print sales, raising a total of $1,929. Being only three years into my art career, this was a dream come true to not just be able to fundraise, but to promote them, and also start discussions through social media about what they do and why it is important. Wingspan relies on donations and visitors to operate, and so it was great to see so many people adding it to their holiday plans and bucket lists.

I want to thank Debbie and the Wingspan team for their amazing work, and if you’d like to find out more about what they do, please visit their website here. You can support them further by becoming one of their members or sponsors, donating directly, visiting, volunteering, or buying a gift voucher.

If you’d like to read more about Whisper’s story, please see the NZ Herald article written about her here.

To see the Whisper artwork please click here.