Support for Fight 4 Flight

An Eastern Osprey with an impressive catch © Susan Tilgner 2021

Osprey with catch © Susan Tilgner 2021

Visible fishing line © Susan Tilgner 2021

This story begins on Magnetic Island. A little island in tropical North Queensland near Townsville. I have been visiting “Maggie” since I was a kid and have had many family holidays there over the years. With each visit I would discover something new, be it the bays, the bushwalks, the butterflies or the bird life. Maggie Island is a very special place, I say it is my happy place, and these experiences have definitely instilled my sense of wonder and awe for nature.

In 2021 I was in Horseshoe Bay photographing birds and collecting reference pics for my illustrations. The area behind the beach is a hotspot for birds, with a great mix of trees, lots of nesting hollows and a very accessible lagoon. A highlight of the day was seeing this Eastern Osprey with an impressive catch (I think it may be a Wolf Herring but if this is incorrect please let me know). Ospreys are amazing fishers and very attentive parents.

To my dismay, when I was home reviewing these photographs on my laptop, I noticed this poor osprey had a fish hook caught in its mouth. I was quite concerned about this as I knew it was caring for two nearly full-sized chicks. I contacted a local wildlife carer and they said they would monitor the nest and told me about the work that Deb and her team of volunteers do at Fight 4 Flight. They provide care to rehabilitate sick and injured birds, specifically birds of prey. Their services cover the Townsville region but on occasion they will receive birds from as far away as Mount Isa, a mining town approximately 900km west.

Earlier this year I was back on the island and revisited the site. I was very pleased to see that there was an osprey in the very same nesting tree I had visited 3 years ago and another nearby with a fish in ‘hand’. This made my day and sparked an idea.

Last year I produced a series of charcoal drawings for my very first joint exhibition ClusterFlock. I had nine illustrations, three short of what I would need to do a calendar so I got to work adding a Stone Bush-curlew, a Wedge-tailed Eagle and an Australian Raven to complete the set. I am very proud to announce that my 2025 Australian Birds Calendar is now available and that I will be donating 5$ for every calendar sold to Fight 4 Flight (hopefully more if my costs are covered). A calendar is a great Christmas gift and I would appreciate your support with a purchase, or simply spreading the word. Stay tuned for updates on Facebook and Instagram.

Osprey Illustration by Susan Tilgner © Susan Tilgner 2021