Adi Tudor - creator of the much-loved Birds of the Merri Creek Calendar and member of Friends of the Merri Creek.

Tawny Frogmouth, Podargus strigoides. Image copyright Adi Tudor.

Adi Tudor’s birds stare back at you with eyes that bore deep into your soul. Her photographs capture what she calls “an inner life force,” which makes a “connection” to the bird, through her work, so joyful. These portraits can be seen every day by those lucky enough to have one of Tudor’s calendars on their wall. The calendars make the perfect gift for anyone who knows about the mighty Merri Creek, or has an interest in birds.

These bird portraits (a different one for every month) emit a siren call, encouraging the viewer to put whatever you’re doing aside and come and experience the beauty of Merri Creek, right now!

The photos have been taken all along the creek, from Craigieburn’s galgi ngarrk & Fawkner’s bababi djinanang to Merri Park in Northcote and East Brunswick. Adi loves exploring these different sites, but many of her subjects were also found within 10 minutes of her house in West Preston. Adi is part of a community of twitchers up and down the creek that share sightings. People who walk the Creek daily, are an invaluable source of shared local knowledge. Bird records from FoMC Birdwatch (Growler’s quarterly report on birds along the Merri) is also key. Adi occasionally browses the website eBird, which lists what birds were seen where, on what date and by whom. 

Adi will plan to visit areas where specific plants, attractive to lorikeets and parrots, are flowering. In November and December she specifically looks for Sacred and Azure Kingfishers. She also just likes to visit the creek any time that fits around her other career as a social worker: even if it’s for just half an hour, to be in the moment, simply observing the beauty around her and appreciating birds doing their own thing. 

Asked about her rules for bird photography, she states the importance of not disturbing nesting birds, being careful not to move vegetation and not making noise. Adi stresses the importance of “accepting what you’ve got….. What is the point if you are obsessive about it (getting the perfect shot), it takes the joy out of it. If I’m too focussed on the shot, then you risk losing the enjoyment of the experience.” 

Adi has very generously donated half the profits of the calendars sold by FoMC, generating over $6000 each year to the MCMC. 

Asked why she chose to donate to the Merri Creek Enviroment Fund, Adi says: “I’m really appreciative of all the planting and I want to make sure we can keep that up…and maintain the habitat for the birds. To make it (Merri Creek) an enjoyable place for people to walk. I feel really happy that I live near it and I want to give towards that.”

Adi Tudor’s calendars are available on the FoMC online shop – sold out for this year.

She also has a range of cards available through her website: aditudor.com.au

Her Instagram handle is @gertie73

Bird Collages coming soon!

Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla. Image copyright Adi Tudor.