Hey there! Welcome to my Portfolio.

Here you'll find examples of my work as an ecologist and creative science communicator. I work collaboratively with educational institutions, conservation organizations, wildlife agencies, consultancies, and other clients to create written works, murals, illustrations, and interpretive resources about science and nature.

Contact: Paulinabarry13@gmail.com

Educational Resources: Custom illustrations and infographics for publications, websites, and exhibitions.
Interpretive Signs: Designs for nature trails, parks, gardens and zoos, and tourist attractions that combine informative text with artistic depictions.
Murals: Large-scale artwork for educational institutions, nature reserves, community centers, and corporate spaces.
Illustrations: Highly detailed and realistic illustrations of animals, plants, and ecosystems, primarily for websites, books, social media, educational materials, and exhibitions.
Wildlife & Animal Portraits: Personalized painted portrait commissions of endangered or iconic species for individuals or institutions.
Paleo-Art: Artwork depicting prehistoric life, particularly for museums, documentaries, and educational use.

Otago Daily Times

Nov 2025----------

May 2025----------

May 2024----------

March 2023--------

Nov 2023-----------

Cosmos

Nov 2023-----------

Sci News

Nov 2023-----------

Otago Daily Times

Nov 2023-----------

Stuff

Nov 2023-----------

RNZ

Nov 2023-----------

'Little wins' sign tide is turning

Graduation marks double success

It’s a wrap

Painting a picture of the past

Student hopes moa mural will ‘spur action’

Big bird tracks in NZ river among oldest moa material in existence

3.6-Million-Year-Old Moa Footprints Found in New Zealand by Natali Anderson

Scientists answer Kyeburn moa footprint questions

Moa's ark - the remarkable find of footprints in an Otago river

South Island's first moa footprints are millions of years old - study

News

Kiwi Portrait Featured on iNaturalist

I was hoping to see a kiwi while surveying the sand dunes of Rakiura/Stewart Island, but wasn't sure if I'd get lucky. I wasn't feeling super lucky at the time because it had rained for two days, keeping the team from working, but as the rain subsided and the sun came out, I went for a walk. The kiwi must have been sheltering too and had gotten hungry from not being able to forage. It's rare to see a kiwi mid-morning! It was a great experience, and I'm glad I have this photo to remember it. Now it's the featured photo for the Southern Brown Kiwi species profile on iNaturalist!

(https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/204465-Apteryx-australis)

Work Highlights

Environmental Educator, Orokonui Ecosanctuary

Coordinating with members on the Orokonui education Team, I lead small-to-medium sized groups of children in nature based activities within the sanctuary. Our team recognize Mātauranga Māori traditional ecological knowledge when speaking about natural history and modern conservation efforts. I assist with school holiday activities and events, and the promotion of the education programme in the education sector and wider community. We prioritize Health & Safety of children and adults in outdoor conditions.

Invasive Species Technician, Hauturu/Little Barrier Island

Department of Conservation, Hauraki Gulf, NZ, Nov 2024
In November 2024 I volunteered to keep invasive weeds at bay on Hauturu/Little Barrier Island. The island is under constant threat of invasive plant invasion and requires ongoing maintenance. As part of a team we scrambled through very thick, rough, and steep terrain in search of invasive seedlings to meticulously remove.

Project Manager and Artist on EXTINCT: Legendary Birds Mural Project

As part of my thesis in Science Communication, I wrote and edited communication materials to raise awareness, influence key audiences, and advance fundraising goals for this original project. I operated heavy machinery to paint an original artwork on a four story building wall and facilitated cross-departmental communication and outside partners to accomplish tasks meet goals. I complied with Health & Safety standards and requirements from the University of Otago, Dunedin City Council, and local businesses to approve and complete the project.

Field Technician Intern, Stewart Island Coastal Dune Restoration

In December 2019 and again in October 2023 worked as part of a team with the Department of Geography, University of Otago, to perform ecological surveys using Ground Control Points (GCPs) along GPS transects to map the Mason Bay Dunescape.
We hiked 15 km a day in variable conditions, photographing and Identifying rare and endemic plants, dodging sea lions along the way.

Author, Heron Meadow Wetland Enhancement Plan

Vashon Nature Center, 2022
Coordinating and cross-referencing with with multiple partnering organizations and King County regulations, I drafted the Heron Meadow Wetland Enhancement Plan. I developed a detailed, ecology-focused plan that includes maintenance, native plantings, pathways, boardwalks, signage, building remodel, and mitigation requirements. This document includes the a wetland delineation report, recent history of modifications and mitigation actions and requirements. While performing daily and weekly restoration and data collection work on site, I had developed a familiarity with the site's characteristics, the goals and aims of the owning and managing partners, and with its potential as a multipurpose site for wildlife habitat and community.

Habitat Steward, Volunteer Coordinator, and Science Technician

As my undergrad capstone project I worked as a Community Education Intern for Vashon Nature Center and later returned to work for VNC from March 2020-Oct 2022, wearing many hats.
In 2018 I researched coyote populations via remote camera, scat DNA analysis, and howling surveys on Vashon Island. I independently managed environmental data collection, interpretation, and presentation of findings. This lead to improving the education model for community and land-owner wildlife tolerance and preparedness.

From 2020 to 2023 I worked as a Habitat Steward, Volunteer Coordinator, and Science Technician.
I coordinated youth and adult volunteers for ecological restoration, art, and science related activities and events. I conducted comprehensive multi-species wetland, forest, marine, and freshwater surveys independently and as part of a team.
I utilized federal, state, and local environmental regulations, policies, laws, guidance and plans, to improve and manage Vashon Island natural resources. for outreach I authored web feature articles and stories, fact sheets, grants, reports, and presentations about local wildlife and environmental education topics.

Attendee at Kea Conservation Trust Summit

Te Anau, NZ, November 2019

To learn more about Kea conservation strategies and challenges I attended the Kea Conservation Trust Summit in 2019. The speakers included scientists, DOC rangers, local residents, volunteers, veterinarians, and environmental resource industry representatives speaking about all aspects of Kea conservation, including science communication and misinformation about conservation strategies and actions. I participated in a parrot first-aid workshop where I learned how to properly hold, feed, and prepare injured or sick kea for veterinary care using real cadavers. The field trip included touring Milford Sound and watching DOC employees capture and perform a health check and blood test for lead on a wild kea.

Field Assistant, Motutapu Shore Plover Project

Department of Conservation, Hauraki Gulf, NZ, Feb-March, 2019
While Wwoofing in Aotearoa NZ in 2019, I volunteered to monitor juvenile and adult critically endangered tuturuatu/shore plovers on Motutapu Island. Some days we worked in pairs, traversing uneven terrain across the island to the isolated beaches and other times I walked independently, often through cattle fields. I counted individuals, recorded leg bands and identifying characteristics, and monitored their behavior. I was a witness at a tokoeka/kiwi naming and release ceremony.

Willing Worker on Organic Farms (WWOOFer)

Having graduated with our bachelor's degrees in 2018, my sister and I set off in 2019 to travel and volunteer in Aotearoa New Zealand as Wwoofers. We volunteered for over 32 New Zealand families, small businesses, non-governmental organizations, and the Department of Conservation. The image here is a special memory of reading my self-published ABC book about deep sea life to a small school in Coromandel.

Student Researcher in Reptile Ecology, Western Washington University

In 2017 I camped in the remote Alvord desert conducting reptile, habitat, and arthropod surveys as part of a student research team from WWU. We utilized equipment including pitfall traps, high speed cameras, trail cameras, night vision goggles, GPS, temperature probes, and microscopes and processed samples in the lab. We used mark/recapture methods to collect data on lizard territory and behaviors. I handled several species of reptiles while collecting body conditions and measurements.

Paulina Barry Ecologist | Science Communicator

News

Work Highlights

Paulina Barry
Ecologist | Science Communicator