Cliff nesting

Seabird landing

It's official: my seabird sketching project has begun (this press release materialized mere hours after I touched down at Auckland International Airport).

I'm doing a Fulbright-Nat Geo Storytelling Fellowship in New Zealand. See more stories from the seabird capital of the world...

Old albatross

Today I start my desultory multiday trip from Maine to New Zealand, where I intend to sketch a lot of seabirds. My overseas flight isn't until this weekend, so in the meantime here's an albatross sketch from the archives!

A post shared by Abby McBride (@sketchbiologist) on Sep 5, 2017 at 5:03am PDT

Actually this was a drawing (based on photographic references) of THE oldest known living bird, Wisdom the Laysan Albatross, who continues to lay eggs and raise chicks at age 66-plus.

City gull

One more week until I head to NZ to sketch seabirds for @natgeo and @the_fulbright_program. Meanwhile, here's a Great Black-backed Gull (originally drawn for @nycaudubon)!

A post shared by Abby McBride (@sketchbiologist) on Sep 1, 2017 at 7:03am PDT

Beach walker

Ring-billed Gull stalking the beach

A post shared by Abby McBride (@sketchbiologist) on Aug 21, 2017 at 6:24am PDT