Kitty Harvill holds the book she illustrated on Wisdom, the world’s oldest known albatross

Kitty Harvill, Co-founder of Artist and Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) and valued ACAP supporter, is to be recognized for her contribution to art and wildlife with Artists for Conservation’s (AFC) top honour: the Simon Combes Conservation Artist Award.  The AFC bestows the award annually to individuals for exemplifying the achievements and dedication of the award's namesake.  The award was established in 2006 and has become the world's most prestigious conservation award for visual artists.  Simon Combes was a prominent member of the AFC until his tragic passing in 2004, when he was killed in an encounter with a Cape Buffalo near his home.

“Kitty is a rare kind of inspiring artist and conservationist, and an extraordinary role model of resourcefulness, creativity, persistence and passion." explains AFC President and Founder, Jeff Whiting (click here).  Kitty writes to ACAP Latest News " I will be receiving the award in person in Vancouver, Canada on the opening night of the four-day AFC Festival over 22-25 September, celebrating this year's annual international exhibition."

 
“Lost in a Rising Sea” watercolour by Kitty Harvill in support of WAD2022 and its theme of Climate Change; after a photograph by Koa Matsuoka, poster dresign by Michelle Risi

Over three years, ACAP has received more than 500 individual artworks, music videos and collage posters from ABUN in support of World Albatross Day on 19 June to use in creating awareness of the conservation crisis faced by the 31 species of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters listed by the Agreement; many of the works painted by Kitty herself.  The works have been used to create World Albatross Day posters, in the ACAP Species Summary series, and regularly to illustrate articles posted to ACAP Latest News.  Kitty Harvill writes to ACAP’s Information Officer: “I'm so very pleased that ABUN has had the privilege of supporting the important work that ACAP is doing”.

A collage of the 22 ACAP-listed albatrosses painted by Kitty Harvill for World Albatross Day 2020
A Grey Petrel chick painted in acrylics by Kitty Harvill for ACAP's "Petrels in Peril" project in 2021; after a photograph taken on Marion Island by Ben Dilley 

The Albatross and Petrel Agreement looks forward to collaborating once more with Kitty and her ABUN artists early next year in support of World Albatross Day 2023.  A theme for the day, and the two species of albatrosses the artists will be asked to illustrate, are currently under consideration, with an announcement expected in a few months’ time.

Artists for Conservation is the world's leading group of artists supporting the environment.  Founded in 1997, the non-profit organization comprises a membership of 500 of the world's most gifted nature artists from 27 countries across five continents.

With thanks to Kitty Harvill.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 12 July 2022

Albatrosses epitomise the wild natural world – their protection leads to conservation outcomes that cross biomes and ecosystems - Aleks Terauds

ACAP Latest News has received a number of inspirational quotes and photographs by Australian marine ornithologists that reside in Tasmania.  They were displayed on a big screen during the Australian Antarctic Division’s celebration of World Albatross Day and its theme of Climate Change last month. A selection expressing “insights and images from those lucky few who have sat quietly in the presence of an albatross” follows.

The seemingly endless sea of Black-browed Albatrosses on Steeple Jason was a sight to behold - Julie McInnes

Time spent amongst albatrosses has always given me an unparalleled sense of remoteness, and a feeling of how small we really are - David Green

It’s easy to see how albatrosses have become some of the most romanticized creatures.  In the sky they radiate grace and stillness – perfectly in paradox with the tumultuous Southern Ocean.  They have become specialists in the most fierce of conditions – yet are so vulnerable - Mel Wells

Observing albatrosses in their natural environment is the ultimate catharsis.  I’ve been working with these animals for five years now, and I still get childishly excited whenever I see one - Ben Viola

It seems an impossible task to find an animal more attuned to its environment than the albatross to the Southern Ocean - Jaimie Cleeland

The sea, the air, the birds ... the honour - Roger Kirkwood

Serene day crawling around the tussock reading Wandering Albatross bands on the southern Macquarie Island slopes... - Kris Carlyon

See Paige Green’s contribution here.  Read more of the division’s celebrations of WAD2022 here.

With thanks to Jaimie Cleeland, Australian Antarctic Division.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 11 July 2022

The eight artwork and 12 photo posters produced to support World Albatross Day and its theme of Climate Change on 19 June are now available in all the three ACAP official languages of English, French and Spanish (click here).

The posters feature the Black-footed Phoebastria nigripes and the Laysan P. immutabilis.  Both these globally Near Threatened albatrosses have most of their breeding populations on the low-lying atolls of the USA’s North-Western Hawaiian Islands.  These atolls - and their breeding seabirds - are all at risk from predicted sea level rise and increases in the number and severity of storms that result in flooding, both considered a consequence of climate change.  Storm floods have even caused at least one small sandy islet to disappear into the sea, losing breeding sites for several thousand albatross pairs (click here); elsewhere in the island chain, as on Midway Atoll, storms have caused flooding of albatross nests and loss of chicks close to the shore.

Thanks are due to the five photographers and the eight artists of ABUN (Artists and Biologists Unite for Nature) who are identified on the posters, and to ACAP supporter Michelle Risi, who designed the posters.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 08 July 2022

The winning entry by Kyle Travers

The Australian Antarctic Division has been an active supporter of World Albatross Day since its inception in 2020, with banners, games, and this year, cartoons, as well as a new banner.

Climate Change.  Ross the cross albatross says “This is the real albatross around our necks”
Second place went to Rhonda Bartley

Jonathon Barrington of the Australian Antarctic Division (and Australia’s National Contact Point for ACAP) wrote to ACAP Latest News shortly after World Albatross Day 2022 on 19 June: “We thought a lot about raising awareness of the 2022 World Albatross Day, 19 June 2022 and theme for this year’s World Albatross Day of Climate Change.  At the AAD we ran a little cartoon competition.  We also held a morning tea and banner photo opportunity last Thursday, 16 June 2022.  The AAD Climate Change Cartoon Competition received a modest number of entries … from … talented cartoonists.  The prize winners were announced during the morning tea.”

The five cartoons came from Kyle Travers (judged the winner), Rhonda Bartley (second place) and Leonie and Patrick Suter (commendation), all illustrated here, and from Vanessa Hollister and Kerry Steinburner.

Leonie and Patrick Suter’s cartoon received a commendation

Jonathon continued “We were delighted with the artistry, inventiveness, and diversity of the Climate Change Cartoons received for the 2022 World Albatross Day.”  He remarks that the cartons might inspire others to run a cartoon competition in future years.  Certainly, ACAP will take this into consideration as it starts to think about a theme and associated activities and products for “WAD2023” later this year.  Never too early to start!

Not to be outdone, Tasmania Park and Wildlife Service rangers Jarrod Hodgson and Andrea Turbett based on Australia’s sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island constructed a life-sized Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans sculpture out of wood for World Albatross Day, naming her Barbara (click here).

With thanks to Jonathon Barrington and Jaimie Cleeland, Australian Antarctic Division.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 07 July 2022