Alyssia Wiesenbauer
‘Ākohekohe and ‘Akiapōlā‘au
Colored pencil on paper
26 x 21 cm.
From the Artist
Done as a part of a series of bird drawings throughout the month of October, these drawings have a special place in my heart. They represent a commitment to illustrating some of the nature that makes my home special. These birds are all types of honeycreepers, a group of birds endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The honeycreepers are one of the most brilliant, unique, and diverse groups of birds out there, but many are unfortunately on the brink of extinction or have already gone extinct. They play incredibly important roles in Hawaiian ecosystems and culture, making their loss all the more heartbreaking. Most are under threat from a disease called avian malaria, which is spread by mosquitoes in Hawai‘i. Due to the warming climate, the range of these mosquitoes has increased, reducing habitat space for the honeycreepers and pushing them higher and higher in elevation. Although the current state of many of the remaining species is grim, drawing them every day gave me a deep appreciation for these beautiful creatures and allowed me to feel closer to the nature of Hawai‘i than I ever had before, despite being 5,000 miles away from home. I hope to play a small part in preserving the beauty of these birds and in spreading the message of their existence and importance.