Flight

In 2019, artist and conservationist Jorji Gardener was invited to collaborate with the South Australian Museum and Artlab Australia to preserve the handwritten labels of 3,400 bird egg clutches collected by ornithologist Captain Samuel Albert White (1870-1954).

White’s documentation of bird life in the Reedbeds—a once-thriving wetland ecosystem—captures a biodiversity now lost due to urbanisation and habitat destruction. Moved by the disappearance of these species, Jorji and her mother, artist and historian Viv Szekeres, created an exhibition and illustrated notebook to catalog the birds from White’s collection.

Their work highlights the global issue of species loss, celebrates the beauty of native birds, and emphasises the vital role of museums in preserving our natural heritage. This book invites you to connect with nature through the captivating beauty of our native birdlife, offering both a reflection on what we’ve lost and a call to action to protect our wild places for future generations.