Birds at Kjelle Wetlands: a one-year project

The finished information board measures 1,5x3 meters

Since the end of 2020 I have been in the process of making an information board over birds at Kjelle Wetlands in Bjørkelangen, Norway. The area is owned by the local school, which now works on restoring the wetland. In addition to increasing the biodiversity in the area, the project also has the goal of improving water quality in the nearby river by leading the water through a natural “filter” - a wetland.

An important part of the project is to make the area accessible to people. The school has therefore made an observation point, where one gets a good view over area. To show what kind of birdlife the wetland could offer, I was asked to paint an information board with around 60 species that regularly appear on the location.

After painting and sketching for several months, the project is now finished, and the printed information board was officially “opened” on October 21st 2021. The size of the board is 1,5x3meters - the biggest I have ever made, and also the biggest I have seen until now. In addition, the local banks had sponsored a Swarovski telescope to be put up beside the board. Now, anyone can come by and enjoy the local birdlife both through the telescope and my watercolors!

Read more about the project and the opening here (in Norwegian):

https://viken.no/kjelle-vgs/aktuelt/storslatt-avduking.120786.aspx

https://www.aurskog-holand.kommune.no/nyheter2/se-fuglelivet-pa-kjelle-engene--ny-fuglekikkingsplass/