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Quietly, cheerfully, energetically they rise before dawn, sing while they work and by the time we surface they would have already fed the family and each had more meals than we would have in a day. They clean up the environment, keep the bug life down, and do more for re-forestation than the government and all the local councils combined. They are part of an international industry that contributes over 14% of the world’s moisture retention programme. They are our native birds. Wild, dramatic, bold, loud and very creative, they are our most dramatic connection with what Australia was, and naturally speaking, should be. Spend one night in the outback hinterland and you’ll be awoken by the sound of true Australia, with a cast of birds in an operatic chorus of nature to which there is no comparison in the world. They are an essential part of our heritage and an essential part of our soundscape, the sounds of what makes this our home. It is only natural then, that we should find a way to make the heritage of our native birds into a momento, a gift of quality that places high value on the sights and sounds of our natural homeland. This new series from Wild-Card.org provides a rich profile of Australia’s unique and stunning, mammals and globally rare birds, some of which are of “vulnerable” status. The birds were selected on the basis of their beauty, particularly in song, and their being a true representation of natural Australia. Each card carries an introductory picture of the subject on the cover placed in front of its natural habitat. The image of the animal is embossed and UV spotted (made shiny!). A unique hue or theme of colour, based on the habitat image, is used for the cover of each card. As the card is opened an 8 second sting of the professionally edited highlights of the creature's actual call is played. These were recorded by a Canberra based professional sound recordist with many years experience, whose vocation and profession is to do just that, to record birds accurately and intimately in the wild. They are the same as are played nationally on radio throughout the country. Inside is a second study of the creature. Each of the photographs has been taken by a particular ornithological or animal photographer who would consider this one of their best pictures. They represent captured moments in the creature's life that would normally be impossible to view. However because of their work, and love for the bird, the photographer has been able to take advantage of the trust afforded them by the bird. A Bush-stone Curlew with young, a rare shot of Crested Bellbirds, an intimate image of a Golden Whistler pair, a Superb Lyrebird face-on, a Pied Butcherbird family at dinner and an extreme close up of a young Kookaburra. Each represents a ‘hard to catch’ image. Please note the care that has been taken to accurately portray the quality of the colour of the animal and accuracy of their habitat, to lift the images to be ‘above the common’. The habitat theme is continued in toned monochrome on the inside left page, the page set aside for a written message. The design is based on some of the icons of Australian landscape and fauna such as Ayers Rock – Uluru, a Sub-tropical rainforest, a Eucalyptus, a Wattle, Pampas Grass, an outback farm landscape. Further adding to the value of this card in suitably representing Australia’s natural wealth to the overseas visitor and the local admirer. Below the bird is a behaviour profile of the bird in simple written form. On the reverse side a repeat of the bird’s image and a conservation report of the species. For further information please call us on Australia Freephone 1-800 653 531or email info@wild-card.org. |