Sarah Stribbling
British wildlife and conservation artist.
A dedicated conservationist, Sarah Stribbling has Bachelors
Degree in Zoology and a Masters degree in Biodiversity and Conservation. She
draws inspiration through her years of travelling and knowledge in the
zoological field and creates intricate oil paintings and drawings that capture
the animals personality and spirit.
Her work has sold worldwide and been published in two books,
Britains orchids wildguide 2021 and I'm currently the front cover artist to a
new York times best-selling author Kate Carlisle (Abense of Mallets). A past
finalist in the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year international awards
held at The Mall Galleries in London, she has also been their featured artist
of the month. She is currently an Ambassador Artist for African Wildlife Art,
INVICTA wildlife fund.
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Lightning fast and technicoloured, seeing a kingfisher
always feels special. Spot them near rivers, diving low to catch tiny fish with
impressive dexterity.
The kingfisher is a small bird with unmistakable plumage.
Its back is bright metallic blue and its breast is a coppery-brown. The beak is
long and black, though females have a red patch at the base. With a wingspan of
25cm and body length of 16cm, a kingfisher is only slightly larger than a
robin, although it is nearly twice as heavy.
Kingfishers are, as their name suggests, expert fishers!
They hunt by diving into the water for small fish, such as minnows, as well as
invertebrates like dragonfly nymphs. It was once thought that kingfishers had
destructively voracious appetites, so much so that they were persecuted by
owners of fisheries in the 1800s.
They tunnel into high-sided riverbanks to make a small
chamber for their eggs, producing two to three broods a year. Each clutch can
contain up to seven eggs, the first hatching in March to May. The eggs take
around 20 days to incubate and chicks fledge after 25 days. The parents feed
their young for a further four days before chasing them off and starting the
next brood. Kingfishers become sexually mature at one year old.