They might be best known for providing shelter, but for Michael Green, who lives with Parkinson’s, painting wooden bird boxes has allowed him to spread his wings.
Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011 and has been engaged with The Hospital Research Foundation Group (THRFG) – Parkinson’s, for almost 10 years.
Last year he decided to give art therapy a try and has been having weekly one-on-one sessions with THRFG – Creative Health art therapist, Natasha Dart.
The pair first tried methods like drawing and collage to no avail. However, Natasha was inspired to try painting a birdbox after reading about the experiences of Frank in a Creative Health newsletter in 2025.
“After our first few sessions it was clear that these were not the right fit for Michael as he was experiencing ‘freezing’ from his Parkinson’s,” she said.
“As an art therapist we are constantly re-evaluating what is working or not working in session, so when I saw Frank’s story in the Creative Health newsletter, I thought this might be the right fit to engage Michael.”
Frank, who also lives with Parkinson’s, was bedbound and felt his life was without meaning after arriving at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s palliative care ward.
But after working with art therapist, Gabby, to paint a birdbox, Frank began to build confidence and progress with his health goals to the point he was able to get out of bed and eventually be discharged from hospital.
The birdbox has been assembled by Creative Health’s diversional therapist, Brad Wilson, and one of his consumers at the Repat Hospital who experienced a brain injury.
Once Michael heard the story of the birdboxes, his interest was piqued.
Michael is a bird lover and has a particular affinity to wedge tailed eagles, even getting a tattoo of one on his shoulder blade for his 50th birthday.
“I used to travel from Adelaide to Port Augusta quite a lot, so I would see lots of eagles in the sky,” he said.
“I like to see them fly around and dive down to catch their prey.”
Living with Parkinson’s has its challenges, and for Michael, one of those is the loss of independence.
While art therapy can help with things like fine motor skills, it can also be used as a platform to help individuals make sense of their experiences and find meaning in their lives.
For Michael, one of the major benefits of art therapy is the freedom it has given him, as living with Parkinson’s means that much of that power has been taken away from him.
Natasha said the changes she has seen in Michael since their first session in April has been quite remarkable.
“When Michael first started on the birdbox, he could only paint for five to 10 minutes before needing a break or ‘freezing’ for extended periods of time. Now he can paint for 40 minutes with minimal breaks and no freezing,” she said.
“We play his favourite music as he paints, so he can sing and move along and find joy in these moments.
“He comes to sessions enthusiastic and with ideas for modifications which is a vast contrast from the beginning where he was reluctant to come.”
The bird box features images of rainbow lorikeets and scarlet macaws on either side, and a wedge tailed eagle on top, which Michael says is to scare cats away.
Michael said he feels pride in the birdbox and is excited to place it by his window where he hopes he can watch a very lucky bird nest and feel safe.
