bills, etc. Additional styles in which Bill William T Cooper Cooper paints are brush and ink wash as those published in Austra­ lian Parrots, 2nd edition, limited A Bird Artist in "Eden" issue; field paintings for reference use when doing final illustrations; byRae V. Anderson and "handbook" style illustrations. Sierra Madre, California All considered, Bill has a wide, varied and pleasing style repertoire. Wendy Cooper, Bill's lovely and When I returned to my home in the team is the tremendous three part, gracious wife, is not only an avid bird Los Angeles area with smog, conges­ six volume series, Kingfishers and enthusiast but also a blossoming tion and concrete from a visit to the Related Birds (Lansdowne Editions ­ botanist as well as seemingly being Atherton Tableland of northern 1983 - ). Part 2, Volume II of this ser­ interested in everything related to Queensland, Australia, I felt a richer ies will probably be released about the rainforest. Wendy is a rare man. This was partially, of course, the time this essay appears and Bill woman indeed. In addition to her the result of the exhileration experi­ Cooper is now completing the paint­ love of all things of the rainforest she enced from being in close proximity ings which will illustrate the two vol­ does not hesitate to get her feet wet with the magnificent rainforest birds, umes of Part 3 (the hornbills). It has nor does she recoil at the presence of mammals, insects and plants with been announced that this will be the the leeches in spite ofsome very trau­ their myriad of shapes, sizes, colors, last joint undertaking by the Forshaw­ matic personal experiences with displays, scents, defenses (yes, Cooper team, a very sad note for the them. defenses - the stiletto-like inner claw ornithological community. These two people reinforce and of the spectacular cassowary, the Bill's meticulous attention to detail complement each other's interests venom spurs of the male platypus, and scientific accuracy together with beautifully (in addition, Wendy is a the razor sharp claws and big teeth of his vast technical knowledge of the good cook). This, dear readers is a the "loveable, cuddly" Koala, the birds and ability with the brush very difficult-to-beat arrangement. toxins of some Lepidoptera and results in true ornithological master­ The Coopers' friendly and very caterpillars, the spines and toxins of pieces. His paintings are found in pri­ comfortable home, located well in many plants, their fruits and seeds), vate collections throughout the the Australian bush, completely hid­ etc. But especially enriching was my world. The ultimate recognition of den from all passing casual viewers, opportunity to spend some, but the artistic merits of Bill's work was is within their own 160 acre block of much too little, time at the home ofa bestowed upon him when the Aus­ primal rainforest. This is immediately very special couple, Mr. and Mrs. tralian government purchased, for adjacent to a large World Heritage William T. Cooper. inclusion in their National Gallery, all area so their property and the Bill Cooper, as no ornithologist or of the original paintings for Parrots surrounding rainforest are now well aviculturist needs be told, is one of of the World, 1st edition, and the protected. The Coopers have so far Australia's finest painters or illustra­ Papua New Guinea government did identified 80 species of the native tors of birds and no doubt the the same thing for all of the Birds of rainforest trees which are visible world's foremost painter of parrots Paradise andBowerbirds originals! from the immediate area of their and hornbills. Bill's earlier paintings In the recent book Masterpieces of house. There are many more. These were principally traditional land and BirdArt- 700 Years ofOrnithologi­ are only the ones they have so far seascapes. He then, in collaboration cal Illustration, author Roger F. been able to identify! with the late Keith Hindwood, illus­ Pasquier states of Bill Cooper "The Imagine if you will, against a back­ trated A Portfolio of Australian foremost practitioner today (of the ground of rainforest, a garden land­ Birds (Charles E. Tuttle Company ­ Gouldian style) is William T. scaped with native Platyceriums 1968). After that, Bill teamed with Cooper", and "Cooper, an Austra­ (staghorn ferns) and lovely wild the noted Australian ornithologist lian, is the most accomplished living orchid species through which wan­ Joseph M. Forshaw, to illustrate painter working in the Gouldian der cassowaries and wallabies and Parrots of the World (Lansdowne style". The Gouldian style is simply decorated with honeyeaters, rifle­ Editions - 1973). This, the finest par­ the style for which Bill Cooper is best birds and spectacular butterflies. It rot book of this century, is now in its known. This is the style which has become necessary to fence their third and final edition. Following this predominates the hundreds of water­ garden (unobtrusively just inside the was Birds ofParadise and Bower­ color, acrylic and gouache illustra­ natural rainforest from the area birds (William Collins Publishers ­ tions in his numerous books. In cleared for the house and garden) in 1977), a magnificent volume on addition to the Gouldian style, how­ order to prevent the wallabies from these spectacular bird groups which ever, Bill does large, very spectacular, eating all of the landscaping in the resulted largely from Bill's extensive full background habitat scenes in oils cleared area, including the lawn, field studies in New Guinea. Then and alkyds on canvas. Some of the down to bare red earth. The walla­ came Australian Parrots, 2nd edi­ more recent examples of these are: bies seem to prefer the landscape tion (Lansdowne Editions - 1981), for Victoria Riflebirds; Hyacinth Macaws plants and open area of the garden which Bill created all new paintings, (which was published as a limited over the countless plant species in choosing not to use any that had illus­ edition, reduced size print - the origi­ the dense forest in which they live. It trated Parrots ofthe World. The last nal being 48 inches x 36 inches); seems the old addage "things always joint venture by this author-artist Palm Cockatoos; Great Indian Horn- look better on the other side of the

34 October/ November 1992 fence" even applies to the wallabies. Stepping out of the house and into Parrot Bands • Cockatiel Bands • Lovebird Bands the rainforest (be sure to close the ParakeetBands • CanaryBands • HandfeedingSyringes gate so the wallabies won't get in) we are immediately into dense forest of All sizes ofplastic bands • Band Cutters • Nets tall trees with their magnificent but­ Stainless Steel Feeding Needles tress bases, rare (at least in Pipettes • ClawScissors FAST the U.S.A.) palms including various SERVICEI Linospadix species, Calamus Send self-addressed. stamped envelope australis and Calamus moti (vigor­ for complete brochure. ous, climbing or vining palms with trunks the diameter of my finger, L & M BIRD LEG BANDS covered with extremely sharp spines P.O. Box 2943 • San Bernardino, CA 92406 and"flagella" two or three meters (714) 882-4649 Mondaythru Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (PST) long, armed with sharp, recurved Closed month ofJuly for vacation. hooks hanging down and always ready to snag any part of the unwary intruder including eyes), the attrac­ tive feather leafed palm Orania appendiculata, tree ferns, the very interesting and uncycad-Iooking cycad Bowenea spectabilis, which is AVIAN TRADER CLASSIFIEDS almost a weed pest in the Coopers' 100% OF OUR SUBSCRIBERS READ THE CLASSIFIEDSI! garden, it's subterranian stems push­ ing leaves up between the paving bricks of the walkways as well as in *Buy, Sell, Trade Your Birds, Equipment, Supplies nationwide. the lawn, flower bed, etc. Also there *Subscriptions: 12 Issues $7. 25 Issues $14.38 Issues $21. is the Strangler-fig Ficus crassipes, or ~~\\l::;~ *Ads due 25th of each Month. 35¢ a word. $7 Min. per Ad. Banana-fig, so called because of the *Published Monthly. Mailed 1st Class. shape of its fruit. This large tree *We accept Checks and VISNMASTERCARD. begins when a bird deposites the *NO LONG WAIT FOR CIRCULATION!! seed high in the branches of a tree. . The seedling sends down very long MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS and ADS to: ATC, Dept. A, P.O. Box 6215, roots to reach the ground. As the Traverse City, MI 49685-6215 Fax iI (616) 946-9317 plant grows, more roots are sent down until they form a network which bond together, eventually strangling the host tree. This fig tree then becomes huge and ultimately shows little evidence that it ever grew on a host. Then there are the myriad of lianas and other plants which I find interesting but cannot Birds live best on live foods. identify. The flagella of the Calamus palms together with the leeches require us intruders to remain ever Birds enjoy and benefit most from live food. alert when in their domain. Gmbeo live foods provide large amounts of high-quality protein and other vital Our attention is qUickly diverted by the loud, harsh scolding of Sulphur­ nutrients, as well as important moisture. crested Cockatoos Cocatua galerita Wax worms, mealworms, fly larvae and crickets - from Gmbeo to your bird galerita, objecting to being dis­ with love. turbed from their feeding. We get no Gmbeo is ready to take your order. Please call us toll-free. more than glimpses of them as they flyaway above the forest canopy. Bill Call or write for your free brochure: 800-222-3563 picks up from the forest floor, pieces of the seeds and pods on which they You also can order by FAX: 513-874-5878, 24-hours a day, every day of the year. were feeding, to be taken back to the house for identification, recording Live Food ~ and sketching, thus adding to his Mealworms· Wax Worms already large but ever growing file of 100% Customer Satisfaction. Fly Larvae • Crickets Live Deiivery. research material. Overcounts. Further down the track Bill points All Foods Available All Year. • out the partially constructed bower Independent Laboratory Nutritional Analysis (Upon Request). QrubcQ of a Golden Bowerbird Prionodura KNOWN FOR QUALITY AND SERVICE. newtoniana. While we are observing Box 15001 • Hamilton, OH 45015 U.S.A. this marvel of avian construction Bill

afa WATCHBIRD 35 c o We are hoping to be fortunate (/) Q5 enough to see a cassowary Casuar­ '"'0 C These big ratites, dwellers of the rain­ Q) ro a: forest, with their dagger like inner ~ .0 claws are very shy though potentially o(/) (5 dangerous and in spite of their large a..~ size seem to have no difficulty keep­ ing out of view of us who are intrud­ ing into their domain. Evidence of their presence is found in the track on our return to the house. A fresh pile of feces the size of a "cow pie", still warm (determined by sticking my finger into it - some basic scato­ logy, a few people will no longer shake hands with me) and full of large seeds the size of English wal­ nuts and golf balls. These birds appar­ ently swallow the large seeds for the benefit of the pericarp surrounding the seed and the seeds themselves pass right on through. Bill stated that sometimes the digestive process Bill and Wendy Cooper andauthor's son Eric with 1990habitatpainting ofPalm does not even remove the pericarp Cockatoos. Photograph taken in dining room ofthe Coopers' home. from certain of the seeds which causes one to wonder why the bird bothers to eat it in the first place? This process however seems to bene­ fit the seed in a manner similar to that of the acacia seeds which germinate better after haVing passed through the digestive tracts of elephants and other large herbivores. In older piles of cassowary feces many of the seeds show signs ofsprouting. These large, spectacular birds with their hair-like feathers, boney cask on their heads and brilliantly colored bare skin on face and neck, pose little threat to humans unless cornered or, as in the Mission Beach area of coastal Queensland where they are Bill Cooper's 1990 fed by residents and tourists, they habitatpainting of lose their fear ofhumans. Palm Cockatoos Through all of this you try to con­ (Proboscigar tinually be aware of leeches (Bill aterrimus aterrimus) informed us "they are only a prob­ on the wall ofthe lem when the weather is wet", Coopers' dining room. which I understand is most of the time). They drop on you from above and crawl up from the leaf duff on the forest floor. They seemingly sense the carbon dioxide or some­ thing emitted by our bodies. They are attempts to "call" the bird in to us. underfur similar to that of an otter, rather unappealing (to most of us) The bird, however, while answering beaver-like tail, webbed feet, duck­ creatures but are as much a part of Bill's calls refuses to venture close like bill, venom spurs on the rear legs the rainforest as are the plants and enough to view. Somewhat deeper of the males, egg laying and milk pro­ birds. They secrete an anesthetic so into his property is a stream with sev­ ducing glands for feeding their you don't feel their bite and an anti­ eral waterfalls and pools in which hatchlings. These are one of the coagulant to facilitate their feeding. Platypuses Ornithorhynchus ana­ world's three genera of11lonotremes, Their anticoagulant is being studied tinus, can be observed feeding and mammals having only one external for potential benficial use in some playing. These sqUirrel size creatures body opening or cloaca, as in birds forms of human cardiovascular dis­ are probably the world's nlost and reptiles, into which the intestine, orders. Just one more example of the anomalus mammal with their soft urator and genital canals all open. rainforest's importance. Sometimes 36 October/ November 1992 c: o the only reason you know you have (/) Q5 been bitten by a leech is the dis­ "'0c: ~ covery of a large spot of blood on '> Q) your clothing. Because of their anti­ a:a3 coagulant, you continue to bleed for £; (/) a while after the leech detaches from o (5 you. .J::. Cl.. The area of the Tableland where the Coopers located their home receives an average of 406 centi­ meters (160 inches) of rain per year. The Coopers commented that the heaviest rainfall they are aware of at their location was 30 inches (76 cen­ timeters) per day for four successive days in 1967! Ten feet ofwater falling Olderpile o/CassouJary (Casuarius casurius) feces with seeds beginning to sprout on the Coopers'property.

BECAUSE . .. Not Every Bird Gets Topper Bird Ranch Diets .. . YETI

Cassowary crossing hazat'd roadsign, Mission Beach area, Queensland.

~~ L~fO R es ferti\ity _ \tlcreos

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MADE TOPPER BIRD RANCH EAST TOPPER BIRD RANCH WEST Bill Cooper uJith wild Victoria Riflebird (Ptiloris ENTIRELY Route 19. Box 529 1466 N. Carpenter Rd. victoriae) male, taking handoutofmealworms Lexington. NC 27292 Modesto. CA 95351 IN U.S.A. (704) 352-BaRO (209) 524-2828 in the Coopers'garden. afa WATCHBIRD 37 ~ Hummingbirds ~;, Lories·Tanagers ~\ Rare Finches Park Birds in four days! That, ladies and gentle­ on Belgian linen canvas. Singing Birds men is something I am not able to In his large, light and airy studio, comprehend. It would cause me to Bill had a couple of large hornbill other birds upon request • Also have high question if the" ark" would be able paintings in progress. With one of quality nectar diets! AUrea . -,'-'_.' to reach us before we sink! Needless these were some small, very prelimi­ Dick Schroeder Don Wells to say, it caused a great deal of nary water color sketches which (619) 73}o~~~~~eaJ~!~71-8330 damage. were particularly interesting to me Because of the extreme and contin­ because they showed some of the uous humidity and high temperature, evolution of his composition. He considerable care must be exercised honored us with a preview of the in the selection of building materials. originals which he has completed Award Winning Habitats Conventional woods, if used exter­ That Address the Most (the hornbills) to illustrate Part 3, Important Elements of nally, would deteriorate very rapidly_ Volumes I and II of Kingfishers and Quality, Functionality, Consequently the Coopers' home is Related Birds. Bill's ability to pro­ BIRD CAGES ANO ~ ACCESSORiES and Safety built on a concrete slab with exterior duce technically and scientifically • OUlSideFeederSyslem • 5YearWarramy. Bird Proof Door Latch siding made ofhard wood fibers com­ accurate paintings of these birds • Unique Lower Apron and Disposal Tray System pressed with a binder which creates • Four Cage Sizes Accommodate Conrues, Cockatjel~ virtually guarantees this third part to Amazons, C()(kat~ Maca",~ and More a moisture barrier and resists decay. be the crowning glory of this magnifi­ • Three ~on- Toxic Cage Colors: White, Gray. Almond Their floors are covered with beauti­ CAlL NOW FOR FREE CATALOG AND INFORJlfATION ON cent Kingfishers series. THE FINEST BIRD CAGES AND ACCESSORIES AVAIlABLE! ful green slate which adds a great During our discussion of his resi­ deal of cooling comfort to bare or dent cassowaries, Bill mentioned that 1-800-336- BIRD or1-619-438-4442 stockinged feet. The house exterior, 2270 Camino Vida Roble • Suites I & J• Carlsbad, CA 92009 he is going to paint a cassowary life FAX: (619) 438-6636 as you might expect of the naturalist, size in habitat. That will be a huge ecologist and artist that Bill is, is of a and very spectacular painting. I com­ mottled green that almost disappears mented to him that I would expect a into the surrounding forest. Their very limited market for such a large AVICULTURAL water supply is rain run offfrom their piece because few people (at least of SOCIETY OF roof captured in a pair of large cis­ the class I am familiar with) have any QUEENSLAND terns with a storage capacity of place in their homes large enough to 22,000 gallons. I doubt that the rain accommodate it. Institutions are a Welcomes new members on the Tableland ever permits the An Australian Society catering to all birds both in distinct possibility of course but captivity and in the wild. We publish a bi-monthly water level in these tanks to drop a finances appear to be generally in magazine on all aspects ofaviculture and conser­ foot. I have been jokingly told that on short supply with them in the vation. Anyone interested in membership please contact: Ray Garwood, 19 Fahey's Road, Albany the Tableland three days without rain world's current economic condi­ Creek, 4035 Queensland, Australia. Annual is a drought. I wanted to look inside tions. Bill's response was that of a subscription: $22 (A) airmail, or $ 16 (A) surface. these cisterns with the expectation Please remil monies or bank drafts in Australian truly dedicated and motivated artist: eurraney. of seeing what creatures were shar­ irrespective of possible difficulties of ing them. I had expected to find the placement "I am going to paint it giant green tree frogs, various aquatiC because I want to:' That is the atti­ insects, etc., and if lucky some other tude ofa true winner. The Avicultural Society fun surprises but I chose not to ask Bill has recently informed me that for fear of causing our hosts possible , 'we came across a large cassowary of America, Inc., embarrassment. Bill however, dashed with a chick by one of the creeks in Welcomes new members. this idea when he told me "they are our rainforest. After an initial burst of completely sealed against unwanted fright the birds settled down and per­ intruders with the inlet meshed with mitted us to observe them from a dis­ a very fine metal gauze such that not tance of about twenty paces:' I have even a mosqUito can get in:' trouble imagining a more perfect Stepping inside the house, our combination for the big cassowary attention is immediately drawn to painting. I am already anxious to see Founded 1927 Bill's 1990, large habitat (full back­ the end result of a project which has ground) painting (Bill paints one of not yet even been started except in We publish a monthly bulletin on all Bill's mind. aspects of aviculture. For member­ these a year in addition to the illustra­ ship information please contact: tions for the books) of a pair of Palm Rather continually at the feeder Helen Hanson, (714) 780-4102, ASA, Cockatoos Proboscigar aterrimus tray in the Coopers' garden is a Inc., P.O. Box 5516, Riverside, CA aterrimus, an absolutely spectacular parade of various interesting rain­ 92517. Yearly dues $20. Foreign piece, right down to the green beetle forest birds. The beautiful Yellow­ members please add $5 to cover post­ on a leaf. The image of this painting is breasted Sunbirds Nectarinia jugu­ age (U.S. funds only). four feet by three feet with the birds laris, nest and rear their young in the life size. This piece is painted in alkyd protection of a covered walkway 38 October/ November 1992 We carry a full line of quality IRICK'srr=:;. . >: bird scales at reasonable ~II h:i ". ~ prices. The most important ::>8:: 1,."",,1accuracy and'''' bl"consistency."," "" BIRDen We have tested many digital . scales and found that scales which runs between buildings. There the forest. The various cute Austra­ that have a load cell are two male riflebirds which alight lian possums, very unlike the" giant weighing mechanism give results that do not change when the weight is moved from one side on Bill's knees or hands and take rat" looking American Opossum, and of the platform to the other. All digital scales are mealworms from his fingers. This is a if lucky a Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo NOT created equal. beautiful sight to behold. Also adding Dendrolagus lumholtzi, and possi­ even more beauty, if possible, to this bly even the beautiful Amethystine MADE WITH PRIDE IN THE U.S.A. "Eden" are the large Cairns Birdwing Python Liasis amethystius. ELECTRONIC DIGITAL BIRD SCALE WITH T- PERCH $79.00 Butterflies Ornithoptera priamus Bill Cooper has been painting, in shipping included .• euphorion, whose larvae feed on the their various stages of developement, This scale has astate of the Aristolochia tagala which vines in the many fruits, pods and seeds of art Load cell weighing mechanism. It was design­ the garden as well as in the forest. the Queensland rainforest. He has a ed for us specifically as a This is a beautiful, large green and very significant portfolio of these Bird Scale and it is black butterfly (the male), a female of completed now and Wendy is writing manufactured and assem­ the text for the book, Fruits of the bled in the U.S.A. It weighs which emerged from its chrysalis the in 1 gm. increments all the morning of our visit. As if this isn't Rainforest. This husband and wife way up to 2200 grams. Also enough there are also the Blue team effort is expected to produce an weighs in 1/10 ounce incre­ Ulysses Swallowtails Papilio ulysses important publication which will fill ments up to 5 lb. Same scale without perch: $75.00. joesa, possibly when flying, the a present botanic void. Perch is not removable but world's most beautiful butterfly. The On the Atherton Tableland, most of scale converts easily to a Ulysses, the size of the North Ameri­ the rainforest has been cleared for baby bird scale by attaching a stainless steel ~=====~1 can Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glau­ farm and dairy use. In the cleared converter dish with perch CUS, is an electric blue on black. This areas beside the roads and along grippers (small $10.00, large $15.00). Uses 9V butterfly, being a tasty morsel to fence rows large quantities of Lan­ battery or optional AC adapter ($11.00) One inch some bird species, rarely seems to tana (Lantana camara), a West diameter perch is standard. Larger diameter perches available. 'Dusty' the African Grey pictured. stop moving. It does not appear to Indian introduction, has naturalized. alight for more than a fraction of a Bill says that because of its high OHAUS TRIPLE BEAM BALANCE second even when depositing eggs or requirement for sun it cannot en­ WITH REMOVABLE T- PERCH $119.00 feeding, and even then its wings do croach on the rainforest and it pro­ shipping included· not stop fluttering. This makes it a vides a very popular and continuous Includes stainless steel baby bowl. Weighs in 1110 of 1 gm. increments. This scale has a capacity of rather difficult photographic subject. food source for the adult butterflies. 610 gm. or you can order the optional weight set The larvae of this flying jewel feed on It therefore serves a beneficial pur­ ($19.00) which increases the scale's capacity to the Euodia or Melicope bonwickii, pose with few apparent negative 2110 gm. elleryana and vittiflora in this area effects. ofAustralia. OHAUS TRIPLE BEAM BALANCE WITH Bill has experienced some rather REMOVABLE PERCH & TARE BEAM $134.00· In the Coopers' rainforest there is harrowing if interesting adventures Same scale as above except that it has a4th beam also the lovely fig parrot Cyclopsitta during his field studies ofthe birds he (tare beam) which allows you to "tare out" the diophthalma macleayana. Though I paints, both in New Guinea with weight of perch or bowl. This eliminates the need to subtract the weight of the perch or bowl after strongly suspect we were in the near sometimes less than hospitable locals weighing bird. Optional weight set. ($19.00). proximity of these beautiful little while observing birds of paradise and birds, they are very difficult to spot in in India while "chasing" hornbills. OHAUS Hanging Pan Balance $149.00· For EGGS the high foliage and we were not suc­ One spine chilling, adrenaline flow­ and very small babies. Weighs in 11100 of 1 gm. cessful in doing so. ing incident, which took place in increments up to 311 grams. At dusk Bill and Wendy take us to a India while sitting on the back end of We also sell a 5000 gm. DIGITAL bird scale large crater-swamp where each even­ an American wartime open jeep ($99.00) with large T-perch for very large birds. ing about 1500 Brolga Grus rubi­ observing those birds, occurred Other brands of digital scales include OHAUS and SUNBEAM. Both are $119.00 with perch. Other cunda, and Sarus Grus antigone when an adult Bengal Tiger appeared scales with perch starting at $33.00. Cranes fly in to roost. As they fly over at a distance of about five meters. Bill the lip of the crater they perform commented that while his options ELECTRONIC DIGITAL THERMOMETER their beautiful aerial ballet. This is were racing through his mind his bet­ WITH STAINLESS STEEL PROBE certainly one of the world's most ter judgement told him to sit still and $19.95 battery included· For checking the temperature of baby bird for­ spectacular ornithological wonders. hope for the best. After a few very mula. Easy to read digital display reads in 1/10 of Unfortunately, the weather is not long seconds of watching each other 1 degree increments up to 2300 F. very cooperative with the clouds at hair-raisingly close range, the big (fog) sitting right on us. We are how­ cat turned and disappeared into the CALL OR WRITE FOR FREE BROCHURE. Not avail­ able in pet stores. To order send check or M.0. ever still able to hear the cranes as undergrowth. Definitely not an to: RICK'S BIRD SUPPLIES, 4373 Raymir Place, they approach and with that warn­ adventure for the"faint-of-heart". A Dept. A Wauwatosa, WI 53222. Phone (414) ing, see them in silhouette as they large painting ofa Bengal Tiger with a 461-8138 COD orders, $4 add'l. -• Shipping in­ pass overhead. Chital Deer kill now hangs in the liv­ cluded in continental USA. We have been stand­ ing behind our scales with a 1lJOC1/o SATISFACTION After dark there is always spot­ ing room - a birthday gift to Wendy. GUARANTEE and a1 YR. WARRANTY SINCE 1988. lighting for nocternal mammals of The Coopers are extremely busy

afa WATCHBIRD 39 people, fortunately doing what they love to do. In addition to finishing the illustrations for the hornbills volumes ofKingfishers andRelatedBirds and Fruits ofthe Rainforest for which he has so far completed the illustrations of440 species (he and Wendy plan to publish 550 to 600 species), Bill is also in the process of painting a series of rainforest birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, fish and plants to illustrate an anecdotal or diary type story of the rainforest. This latter book is being authored by Stan Breeden, a friend of the Coopers and is not intended to be a serious academic work. In the rainforest it would be easy to convince one's selfyou are in heaven were it not for a few earthly incon­ veniences such as the high humidity and heat, mud, leeches and biting insects and the Calamus" flagella" which continually try to snag all parts of the anatomy ot the intruders as Bill Cooper with newly emerged Cairns Birdwing butterfly (Ornithopterapriamus you make your way through the euphorton)female in the Coopers'garden. lianas. These remind you that your feet are still on the ground.

Postscript The following are excerpts from a c o recent news release by the Philadel­ en (i) -0 phia Academy ofNatural Sciences. c William T. Cooper of Queensland. has been selected by the Academy of Q)co a: Natural Sciences of Philadelphia to >­ ..0 en receive that institution's Gold Medal o (5 for Distinction in Natural History Art. ..c The presentation was made by the c.. Academy's president, Dr. Keith S. Thomson in Cairns on Saturday, June 20 (1992). Mr. cooper is a painter of many natural history subjects, but it is his extraordinary paintings of birds for which he has been singled out for the Academy's award. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Bill Cooper in his founded in 1812, is the oldest natural studio shoWing history institution in the Western (field study" Hemisphere. Among it's early mem­ paintings made bers were Charles Darwin, John for reference use James Audubon, and John Gould whenpainting the (whose collection of Australian Birds "Fruits ofthe is housed in the Academy's Ornitho­ Rainforest" logy Department). illustrations. The Academy's Gold Medal is awarded periodically to artists "whose artistic endeavors and life's work have contributed to mankind's better understanding and apprecia­ tion of living things". Previous recip­ ients ofthe medal have included pho­ tographers Ansel Adams and Eliot Porter, painters Roger Tory Peterson and Sir Peter Scott, and writer Peter 40 October/ November 1992 Matthiessen. The medal was last president. presented in 1987 when the B.B.C.'s Mr. Cooper, a professional artist for THE FEATHER FARM, INC. famed Natural History Unit was over twenty years, has collaborated honored for excellence in scientific with Joseph M. Forshaw on a series cinematography. of large-format monographs which, 1M "From u e ful breeder to help breeder be According to Dr. Thomson, according to Dr. Thomson "recall ucce Ful" William Cooper is the first Australian the glory days ofscientific publishing Introduces a new to be honored by the Academy in its more than a century ago, but with all dimension in bird 180 year history. ',Mr. Cooper's of the newest scientific information breeding products... paintings have set a new standard for available. Dr. Thomson describes the excellence for scientific publica­ Forshaw/Cooper books as modern tions", commented the Academy's monuments to science and art" .• c o en Q5 ""0 C c::{ >= Q) co a: >0­ n en o (5 .c. 0..

Lory BoxOp!lon addSl0 per box l Box Large - 24" x24")( II" Assembled - $65.00

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Cairns Birdwing butterflies (Ornithopterapriamus euphorion) copulating. A/ale is moregreen. One ize36" x 12" Assembled - $75.00

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afa WATCHBIRD 41