FROM ravenous raptors to colourful parrots and humble fowl, Moulamein farmer Nick McKindlay has captured images of more than 115 species of birds on his property with his camera.
“Our property ranges from river country to flat riverine plains and you get a really diverse bird life within the property itself,” he said.
Mr McKindlay’s passion for birds has been embedded in his everyday life.
Now, with the support of the Australia’s Creative Rural Economy Project, he is flying to new heights with his first exhibition, Birds: Through a farmer’s lens, opening on Saturday at Moulamein Art Gallery.
“Exhibiting my photos is not something I’d ever thought I’d be doing,” Mr McKindlay said.
“I’m not a photographer. I’ve got more interest in the birds than photography.
“For me, it’s about being able to show off the birds.”
Mr McKindlay said he only took on photography in 2020 after receiving a camera as a Christmas present from his wife.
“At the time, we were in the middle of a drought and it just gave me something to do,” he said.
“It gave me an opportunity to look for new birds again.
“It’s also easier to identify and record birds on the property with a camera.
“Before this, if I saw a bird while riding my bike on the property, I had to memorise what it looked like.”
Now, Mr McKindlay works on the farm with a camera always at hand, ready to capture the perfect shot.
“You never know what you’re going to see just around the corner,” Mr McKindlay said.
“And if I’m lucky, I have a chance to record that moment with my camera.”
Mr McKindlay said photography had given him the opportunity to pause from his busy day and appreciate the bird life and other nature on the farm through a new lens.
“It’s something that gets me up in the morning,” he said.
“As a farmer, I don’t have a lot of time for myself, so if I’m able to combine both my work and hobby, it’s all the better.”
The exhibition will showcase about 50 of Mr McKindlay’s photos of birds on his property.
Images from Mr McKindlay’s Instagram account gained the attention of the ACRE Project, an initiative seeking to highlight rural creatives.
With their support, Mr McKindlay’s birds can be seen on big canvases and digital displays at the gallery until September 27.
“When you’ve got the photos on a small screen, you don’t really see the depth of colour or the details of the bird that well,” Mr McKindlay said.
Mr McKindlay hopes the exhibition will inspire and inform visitors about the vast bird life in Mallee.
“I hope they can walk out with a better appreciation for the birds they might see out there,” he said.
