Disclaimer: This article was published in 2022. Some information may no longer be current.
While out enjoying a picnic, Australian wildlife conservation artist Deb Farrimond spotted a pair of familiar, wide-eyed faces in the trees above her head. It was a pair of southern boobook owls, fluffy, adorable, and all too happy to pose for the camera.
“Fortunately for me, the owls were very curious about me and my camera, and were quite comical with head tilts and wide eyes,” Farrimond, 57, told The Epoch Times. “Very funny to watch, and luckily my photos turned out really well.”
Deb, treasurer for the Pastel Artists of South Australia, was attending a Christmas picnic with the group at her local Oaklands wetlands in the southern suburbs of Adelaide when she saw the fluffy pair. However, it was not the first time she'd seen this species in the area.
“My husband and I had visited the wetlands the week prior to this, and found the owls in the same place they had raised their chicks the previous year,” she said. “I use my own reference photos from my travels and field trips, so finding this beautiful southern boobook family for the second year in a row was a huge thrill.”
“People have absolutely loved them,” said Deb.
Married with three children and six grandchildren, Deb is an artist with a passion for bringing awareness to endangered species. She has been painting wildlife for roughly six years, using soft pastels, charcoal, and scratchboard as her main mediums.
“Boobooks are the smallest owls in Australia and hunt at night, preying on small marsupials, mice, and insects,” she said. “I am planning to paint these gorgeous little birds in the new year, and hopefully bring their character to life on paper.
“My aim is to bring awareness to our wildlife and the struggles they face with human interference in their world. I support conservation charities and local rescue groups with sales of my work, and hope to continue for years to come.”
