South Otago Forest & Bird member Catriona Gower hosted the first of two initial "wildlife discovery meetings" for artists at the Catlins Lake near Owaka, before dawn last Saturday.
Ms Gower said the inaugural "It’s Wild!" event aimed to inspire participants’ art with the Catlins dawn chorus, and a possible encounter with the elusive bittern.
Although the bittern kept his call under wraps, the five artists attending were regaled with a feast of other natural delights, she said.
"We were lucky to have local ornithologist Richard Schofield guiding us, who pointed out several things we might otherwise have missed in the twilight.
"These included an aerial display by a swamp harrier in a group of four, and local sulphur-crested cockatoos as they flew out across a paddock. It will be interesting to see if the artists feature these in their work."
She said the series of free events during coming months would take in different aspects of the Catlins’ flora and fauna, and be drawn together with a celebratory art exhibition at the Owaka Museum in June next year.
The Creative NZ-funded events are for artists, by booking only.
"Our next event is at Tawanui, where we’ll be doing some bat-spotting, and see what else emerges at dusk in the Catlins bush.
"Later this spring and summer we’ll explore other locations, and wildlife including titi/muttonbird, invertebrates and fungi."
Balclutha painter Belinda Mason said Saturday’s event was "magical".
"My painting explores the intersection of light and darkness, and the many different kinds of darkness that exist in nature.
"These events are so exciting because it’s rare you get opportunities to explore the bush at night in such knowledgeable company."
Ms Gower said if there was a common theme running through the outings, it was to expect the unexpected.
"Although we were there to listen for bitterns, instead we were inspired by an amazing dark sky display of stars, satellites and the international space station as it passed across the Southern Cross, to a backdrop chorus of swans, shelducks and stilts in the dark.
"We even heard fernbird in the nearby reeds."
Artists and photographers seeking details of future events can email catlinspekapeka@gmail.com.
