Ink, feathers, & curiosity

*8/31 - Hawaiian rail, Porzana sandwichensis (EX)

This year’s theme for Avian August is dedicated to the incredible birds of Hawaii! I’ve put together a list of mostly endemic species, plus a mix of iconic seabirds and forest birds, as well as a few extinct species, so there’s lots to learn, draw, and appreciate together.

✨How to join:

* Use the daily prompts as your guide to create bird art each day in August - or pick a few favorites and go at your own pace!

* Post your work anywhere you like and tag it with #Avian August or #Avian August 2025 so we can all find and share each other’s work.

Whether you’re here to learn, sketch, paint, or just admire - remember, as always, to take breaks, have fun, and let these beautiful Hawaiian birds inspire you. Thank you for joining! 🌈🐦🌴 I can’t wait to see all your beautiful art this year.

~*~

I’ve added the conservation status, just to be clear: vulnerable (VU), near threatened (NT), endangered (EN), least concern (LC), extinct (EX), critically endangered (CR).

writers wishing they could write what's in their head

🤝

Brain: This is boring. Draw. Write. Paint. Do something artsy or fun. BTW here are some really cool ideas you should work on….

Me: Ok, lets do some art.

Brain: Nah.

Me: Why am I like this?

Toads are humble creatures, and rather reserved. They don’t boast or show off. They don’t need to. Toads know that their magic is strong, that they are skilled and bright and capable. A toad has a solid sense of self, which they only arrived at after a series of big life-changes. More selective in their social circles, a toad would have bonded with you because they admired your maturity. You are thoughtful, careful of others’ feelings. You also value self-examination and self-improvement. You want to be the best version of yourself that you can be, but you also understand that people are always in motion-- being the best version of yourself is something you can strive for, not something you can arrive at. You are courageous in the face of change, however frightening or bittersweet you find certain changes to be. Your familiar views you as wise beyond your years and values your friendship dearly. Transfiguration and potions are the areas of magic the two of you are most skilled in.

Bat