Birds of My Neighbourhood documents the species I encounter in Ottawa, especially along the Beaver Pond trail where I walk almost every day. Each piece begins with a photograph I take on location, ensuring every painting or drawing records a genuine moment with a local bird. In the studio I treat these images like traditional portraits, concentrating on posture, expression, and presence. My goal is to showcase the diversity and character of the birds that share our suburban landscape and to remind viewers that nature thrives right outside the doorstep.