The Washline Family
A Malachite Tale
My serendipitous encounter with a female Malachite Sunbird, which at first just seemed like an “ordinary” everyday encounter with “just” another garden bird. However, it became a profound two-month journey with her family. I bonded with the birds and was fortunate enough to witness and document the complete birthing cycle of her two beautiful fledglings. Celebrating their triumphs and sharing in their fears.
The book tells of my boots-on-the-ground understanding of their complex language, which set me on a new journey of appreciation for all the smaller life forms living on our doorsteps. I speak of my transition from advertising to wildlife photography and share my newfound knowledge of garden photography versus outdoor nature photography, and how bird language helped me achieve these photographs.
Price R170.00 – Available in E book only.
All proceeds from bird book and print sales go to wildlife organisations – see organisations.
Contents
- The Washline Family memoir
- Learning bird Language
- Garden photography advice and tips
- Micro photography and garden inhabitants
- Ingenious plants and bird feeders
- Chacma baboons, predators and other threats
- …and much more
“Every bird, every tree, every flower reminds me what a blessing and privilege it is just to be alive.” — Marty Rubin
Clive Stewart
I live in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa, and consider myself fortunate to still reside amidst nature and wildlife, even as urbanization continues to encroach upon these spaces with each passing day.
Reconnecting with the natural world doesn’t require vast amounts of time or extensive travel to exotic locations to cultivate meaningful experiences. Within the confines of our gardens, smaller life forms—birds, reptiles, and insects—patiently await discovery, each with their own story to tell.
Since the dawn of humankind, animals have played an integral role in our narratives, often depicted in ancient rock art. Though we may be the authors of these stories, the stories themselves belong to the animals.
To the Animal Kingdom, both past and present—thank you for creating such a wonderful and diverse world.