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paulinabarry.bsky.social
@paulinabarry.bsky.social
Ecologist and Science Communicator in Aotearoa New Zealand (she/her)
Online Portfolio: paulinabarry.wixsite.com/website
Commissions OPEN
DCR has pottery, conservation mahi, rare and endangered species, trains, and heritage to enjoy. I've visited multiple times and always find new ways to enjoy the place and people, which is what I wanted to express in this mural.

#Drivingcreekrailway #mural #coromandel #Aotearoa #newzealand #frog
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Central Otago is a hotspot for moth and butterfly diversity, thanks to the Olearia genus, which are hardy shrubs that serve as host plants for over 220 species. These illustrations are for a poster of the Taiari River Catchment, coming soon!

#sciart #butterfly #moth #insects #nature #flowers #art
October 24, 2025 at 4:22 AM
I drew this marsh crake | kotoreke (Porzana pusilla affinis) for a book on wetland species of Aotearoa NZ. This is a super cryptic species by nature, but I think we might see more of them around if we restore wetlands and cap the dairy industry.
#nzbirds #marshcrake #birds #birdart #wetland #sciart
October 12, 2025 at 6:12 AM
This beauty is an Otago Skink, endemic to Aotearoa NZ. They are one of NZ's largest lizard species and live in schist outcroppings. They can withstand cold winters and have evolved to give birth to live young!
#skink #herp #lizard #reptile #sciart #herpetology #wildlife #natureart #art #animalart
September 8, 2025 at 8:16 AM
It was lovely to see the artwork I made featuring Central Otago wildlife come to life in the real world as signage. You can learn about the biological richness of the Taiari river by visiting #Ranfurly thanks to the Tiaki Maniototo Project.

#nature #art #otago #aotearoa #newzealand #otagorailtrail
August 13, 2025 at 4:00 AM
For someone who used to think intricate details were all that mattered, I'm finally understanding and appreciating art that is joyfully simple, stylized, and symbolic.
#digitalart #vintagestyle #printmaking #wildlifeart #lizard #butterfly #fish
August 7, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Sharing a few assets I made for The Tiaki Maniototo Project's community day. Its a great project working to improve and restore biodiversity around the Taiari River. Volunteer native plantings are a big part of it.
#conservation #otago #nativeplants #nativegardening #sciart #newzealand #vintageart
July 31, 2025 at 5:53 AM
There are two birds of prey that you are able to see in Aotearoa NZ during the day, the Kāhu, and the much less common New Zealand falcon/Kārearea. I've painted this one for the upcoming Taiari Catchment Biodiversity poster.

#taiaririver #sciart #birdart #birdofprey #nzfalcon #falcon #digitalart
July 8, 2025 at 4:15 AM
The next gecko for the upcoming biodiversity poster of Central Otago is the jewelled gecko!
#gecko #lizard #otago #Aotearoa #newzealand #digitalart #wildlifeart #herps #sciart #scicomm
June 21, 2025 at 2:54 AM
I'm working on a large biodiversity poster right now, which means lots of illustrations of little guys like this kōrero gecko, native to the Otago Region in Aotearoa NZ.

#sciart #gecko #biodiversity #herps #lizard #scicomm #reptile #otago #newzealand #aotearoa #digitalart
June 20, 2025 at 7:11 AM
May 12, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Ocean floor mining has been a hot topic lately with talks about the US and New Zealand rushing to scrape it all up, so I'm sharing my book about deep sea animals to help raise awareness. It's great for all ages and it's free on kindle!

www.amazon.com.au/Z-Deep-Dark-...

#sciart #Deepsea #kidsbook
May 12, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Today I painted a burgan skink with Ourisia caespitosa. This is an alpine skink, endangered in Aotearoa NZ from loss of habitat to agriculture and introduced predators. I'm hoping to paint this as a mural in Central Otago, where small populations remain.
#skink #herp #lizard #reptile #sciart
April 6, 2025 at 4:26 AM
It was a delight to find these beach strawberries (Cyttaria gunnii) while tramping at Milford Sound. They are so unique-looking! They are present in Australia and New Zealand, but only grow from beech trees, which are rare mostly found on the West Coast of Te Wai Pounamu.

#fungifriends #fungi
March 24, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Paradise Shelducks, or Putangitangi are one of the few native species in Aotearoa that are common and thriving! Nearly always in a pair, the males have black heads and the females have white heads. They are quick to honk at passers by and while in flight.
#ducks #aotearoa #sciart #birdart
March 23, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Can't help but think of little cloaked critters when I see the fallen nikou palm fronds in the forest.
#forest #fantasyforest #forestfantasy #nature
March 14, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Mushroom photos from last season on the Government track, near Dunedin. Fall is coming again and the mycelium is calling! The first 2 are Hypholoma australianum. The purple one is a Webcap (Cortinarius), and there was this huge log covered in Inonotus nothofagi!
#fungifriends #mushroom #fungus
March 12, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I love painting wildlife and ecosystems partly because I learn so much from working with other researchers. The upland bully lives in Central Otago rivers and streams along with water boatmen or backswimmers. For a small fish they have a lot of color!
#sciart #scicomm #fishart #freshwater #otago
March 12, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Kaka are and endemic parrot of# Aotearoa New Zealand. I took this photo at Orokonui Eco-sanctuary and decided to paint it to stay sane today.
#kaka #orokonui #Aotearoa #parrot
March 6, 2025 at 11:04 PM
It's #Endangeredspeciesweek and I'd like to highlight a bird that rarely gets considered. Red-billed gulls seemingly everywhere in #Aotearoa, but their breeding populations are vulnerable to a multitude of human-caused disturbances. They might be annoying, but we'd miss them if they were gone.
March 5, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Obligatory wildlife for #worldwildlifeday ! This is one of my favorite wildlife photos I've taken, or a Cascade fox on Tahoma/Mt.Rainier. #fox #tahoma
March 4, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Happy World Wildlife Day! I made these coloring pages featuring wildlife of the open ocean habitat for NOAA and OCNMS a while ago and forgot I had them! Which one do you like better? #worldwildlifeday
#shark #dolphin #sunfish #oceanart #orca #seal #salmon #sciart
March 3, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Last year I helped out my sister with her ecological fieldwork in Oteake Conservation Park, Central Otago. The deep gullies between the scree slopes are hidden gems. The cold springs create microclimates for a diversity of rare plants, insects, and lizards.
#reptiles #Oteake #Newzealand
February 18, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I'm sorry did I just tear up over this little fish?

#anglerfish #deepsea #deepseacreature
February 18, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I've been a deep sea fan for a long time, so much I even made a book! The plight of the #anglerfish is quite touching, as is her international romanticization. If you'd like to learn more about the deep sea and support a small-time artist, check it out www.amazon.com/Z-Deep-Dark-...
#deepsea #sciart
February 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM