Feathered Stories: Painter Maria B. Galizzi’s Birding Journey

Where Maria’s Birdwatching Journey Began

For Maria, birdwatching didn’t begin with travel or rare destinations. It started at home, with quiet moments of noticing what was already there.

“I have always been fascinated by nature and wildlife,” she says. “I started watching birds that landed in the field in front of my kitchen window. I started to pay more attention to their feather colors, their size, their behavior, and started noticing them more.”

That curiosity soon turned into a habit of careful observation — one that shaped both how Maria watched birds and how she painted them. “I’m an organised person and enjoy cataloguing stuff, so I started collecting some books that talked about European birds, and started to make a list of all the possible birds I could see in the area I live in, and started recording each sighting. This marked the start of my birdwatching journey.”

This careful way of watching birds also shaped how she approached her art. “Watching them and paying attention to their characteristics consequently helped me when sketching or painting these beautiful animals… I try to capture and share each and every single bird personality throughout my paintings.” Such attentive observation turned everyday birdwatching into both an artistic practice and a source of mindfulness for Maria.

Seeing Beauty in Every Bird

When asked about a favourite bird, Maria’s answer reflects her way of seeing the world.

“Each bird for me is special. Even if they are common birds like house sparrows, I try to at least take one moment and pay attention to all the colours I can spot on their feathers and to find specific characteristics or behaviours that make them unique.”

Still, one bird stands out in her heart and imagination: the Common Kingfisher.

“The fact that they are so elusive (I have only seen one once) makes them special and unique, and the contrast of their feathers' colours makes them absolutely captivating.”

Their rarity, combined with those flashes of blue and orange, makes every sighting feel like a small moment of luck — the kind you don’t forget, even if it lasts only seconds.

Moments That Stay With You

Certain encounters with birds leave a lasting impression, not because they are dramatic, but because they unfold quietly and unexpectedly.

“Back in 2021, there was a little racing pigeon that made a stop in my front garden. I went on and fed him some bird seeds and water, and even fed him from my hand. Some minutes later, I went out to enjoy my lavender, and ‘Bob’, the racing pigeon, was still there and started following me everywhere I walked. I knew I couldn’t feed him more as he needed to go back to his home, but I enjoyed the two days he stayed there recovering before flying away.”

That brief encounter stayed with Maria not just for the closeness it allowed, but for the gentle lesson it offered — that sometimes, caring also means knowing when to step back and let a bird find its way home.

Moments like this aren’t rare in Maria’s life — they often arrive when she least expects them, even the walks she’d taken a hundred times could suddenly deliver a little surprise.

“Last year, I was walking along the canal near my home with my husband and son, and all of a sudden, I saw a dash of blue flying between two trees. I knew immediately what it meant; a kingfisher was hiding there, so I waited a couple of minutes, and then I saw him, just a dash of blue with orange and a large beak. It was the first time in 8 years of walking there almost every week, and it all happened so quickly that I just stood there frozen. My husband and son were so happy for me as they knew what a glorious moment it was, and we just talked about it the whole way back.”

For Maria, moments like these are reminders that even familiar paths can still offer wonder — if you’re paying attention.

Maria often carries a notebook with her, capturing quiet moments during her walks — whether close to home or while traveling.

Listening Before Seeing

For Maria, birdwatching isn’t just a feast for the eyes — it’s a full-on concert for the ears.

“Wrens, robins, woodpeckers, long-tailed tits, and goldfinches are among the common birds I get to spot regularly in the fields in front of my home,” she says. Watching the birds is one thing, but sometimes the garden has its own soundtrack — and that’s when the magic really starts.

“I absolutely love those moments when I can hear a bird and identify it before I spot it. Wrens and Robins are my favourites to hear, their voice is powerful, and you can usually hear another one far away talking back.” Hearing the birds before seeing them has deepened Maria’s connection to the rhythms of her garden, turning ordinary mornings into attentive listening sessions.