Australia is home to many amazing bird species, which is whyBirdlife Australiaorganises National Bird Week each year, with the goal of inspiring Australians to take action and get involved in bird conservation efforts. This year, National Bird Week took place between Monday the 16th through to Sunday the 22nd of October, 2023
Each year you can celebrate National Bird Week by taking part in the Aussie Bird Count, where you can join thousands of people from across the country who head out into their backyards, local parks or favourite outdoor spaces to take part. To get involved all you need is 20 minutes, your favourite outdoor space, and some keen eyesight. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or an expert, all you need to do is simplyregister, record the birds you know and look up those you don’t on the ‘Aussie Bird Count’ app or with the assistance of their website resources.
Not only will you get to know your feathered neighbours, but you’ll be contributing to a vital pool of information from across the nation that will help us see how Australian birds are faring. You’ll see live statistics and information on how many people are taking part near you and the number of birds and species counted in your neighbourhood and the whole of Australia!
To celebrate this incredible diversity of birds we Australians are lucky to have, we have created a list of Handmade designers who celebrate these wonderful birds by incorporating them into their designs.
Behind Pink Oasisis the husband-and-wife team Felicity and Allen, who are passionate about gardening, drawing and sewing. Inspired by nature, birdlife and colours, they combined the skills of traditional drawing and digital illustration to create their own textile patterns for their handbags.
Kayla Reay is a life-long bird fanatic and brings her enthusiasm to the paper with her unique drawings of ‘Bird Bouquets’. Through purposeful pencil strokes and eye-catching colours, she creates pieces that celebrate the diversity within Australia’s flora and fauna. Each of her products are created with love and are designed and printed within Australia and packaged with personal touches.
Outer Islandcelebrate the magic of native plants, animals and habitats through their Australian themed souvenirs and sustainably made local goods. Stephanie (artist) and Amy (designer) from Outer Islandare a Sydney based duo who are passionate about all things environmental and even founded the Sydney Bird Club. How cool!
Mickey and Loucreate useful, beautiful one of kind products from gorgeous textiles, with their range including everything from accessories (think bags, clutches and more) to homewares (cushions, throws and tableware). Mickey and Loufocus on small batch production, allowing them to explore new ideas and designs and stay excited about the creative process. Each piece is one of a kind, with similar designs being made but no two being exactly alike.
Kathleen, the artist behind Frianki Art & Prints, draws inspiration from the natural beauty of Australia’s native botanicals and wildlife, to showcase them with her distinct illustration style in fine art prints, cards & original artworks. Working in a variety of mediums and formats, exploring both familiar and unusual Australian natives and bird life, Kathleen creates Frianki artwork to captivate your vision, delight your imagination and bring warmth to your home.
Zenti Designs is the creative business of Artist Emma Oliver, who paints whimsical Gouache illustrations, full of colour and fun, with a touch of humour. She produces unique art prints, greeting cards, gift tags, calendars and more paper goodies (whatever she can think up and create at her desk!). You can explore her world of colourful houses, aussie birds and florals, and quirky little “happy cards”, all designed to put a smile on your face and brighten any space.
Breezy Bird Studio provides a collection of premium artwork including original paintings, archival prints and gifts. Inspired by nature and birds, all of their products are designed to enhance particular colour palettes of their themes. They focus on serene landscapes, minimalistic florals, joyful birds and these are complimented by a variety of nursery animal designs.
Laminated Cotton Shop is a boutique for reusable homewares to replace disposable plastics featuring bird life.. All products are handmade in Melbourne from waterproof and machine washable laminated cotton in designer prints. The fabric is oeko tex certified and biodegradable. The idea is one product can be used and washed many times over.
Marrawuy Journeys creates artwork featuring Australian birds that inspires to effect positive change both within self and within our communities. They also create meaningful artwork that is bespoke to your home or organisation, along with unique gifts that are perfect for any occasion.
If you would like to participate in National Bird Week and learn more about the Aussie Bird Count, head to Birdlife Australia for more information about next year’s count.
