Preserving the Beauty of Forest Birds Through Art

According to Dao Van Hoang, an artist known for painting birds, the greatest challenge is to truly understand their biology — from habitat and feeding habits to the ways they communicate. For that reason, artists often have to immerse themselves in the forest, observing birds in their natural surroundings for inspiration. Anna Ratkevich has done the same, regularly entering the forest to study how the birds live and behave in the wild.

For Anna Ratkevich, studying bird species in Bidoup–Nui Ba National Park has become a mission to preserve biodiversity through art. Through her paintings, she captures avian anatomy with precision while also fostering a deep, symbiotic connection between humans and nature.

Her work serves as a valuable record of biodiversity, helping viewers identify endemic species in one of the world’s 221 endemic bird areas. Yet Ratkevich’s art goes beyond depicting physical traits such as size, shape, and color.

Through her paintings, viewers can almost hear the whisper of the forest wind, the flutter of wings, and the startled cries of birds disturbed by human presence. Each work carries a subtle message: beneath the forest canopy lies a world of bird calls waiting to be heard. Recognizing the artistic and educational value of the collection, O Cua Sach has secured the rights to publish it as a book. According to Vu Thi Thanh Tam, the publication, titled “Hoa sac thien nhien – nhung canh chim rung Bidoup,” will feature 30 illustrations of bird species from the park. Created as a black-and-white colouring book for children, it will also include bird stickers reflecting each species’ natural colouring, along with large-format illustrations.

Beyond sparking creativity, the book offers informative content about each species, helping children discover the world of birds in an engaging way. The publication is expected to be released in April 2026. With vivid, poetic strokes, Anna Ratkevich’s paintings bring forest birds to life with purity and charm. They are gentle whispers from nature to those willing to listen, feel, and share. Through this collaboration, children are given an early opportunity to connect with forest ecosystems through art, helping nurture awareness of and responsibility for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.