‘A Postcard from the Hollow: The Secret Life of Mikey the Powerful Owl’ book launched at Macquarie University on Wednesday 22 October 2025.
It is the third book in the trilogy from writer Georgia Cameron and photographer/musician Michael Bianchino following their popular ‘Mikey the Powerful Owlet: Saving Byles Creek Valley’ and ‘Mikey the Powerful Owlet & Friends: Saving Byles Creek Valley & Beyond’ books in 2016 and 2017.
In the first book, Mikey was just a little chick. In the second book he’d developed into a juvenile.
Now, Mikey’s all grown up but life is challenging. There’s a housing (or hollow) crisis in the Valley due to habitat loss and a cost-of-living crisis (with ringtail in short supply), so he’s working two jobs.
And in addition, he’s struggling to protect his family from human induced threats like climate change, hazard reduction burns, roadkill, rodenticide poisoning, electrocution on powerlines.
The latest book is a community collaboration based on Georgia’s highly commended 2024 Australian Wildlife Society wildlife fiction short story competition entry and Michael
Bianchino’s body of photographic work compiled over a decade of monitoring Powerful Owls. The illustrations were created by Macquarie University Junior Science Academy students guided by local artists Melony Smirniotis of Gallery 11:11 and Jo Goodchild.
This project takes Georgia and Michael’s fundraising for Sydney Wildlife Rescue, BirdLife Australia’s Powerful Owl Project, and other wildlife charities to $19,952 including 42 ‘Secret Life of Powerful Owls’ shows to over 3,000 people, large-scale events for National Science Week, and busking and markets.
All profits are fundraised for Sydney Wildlife Rescue and BirdLife Australia’s Powerful Owl Project.
Books are available at :
www.mikeythepowerfulowlet.com Beecroft Post Office Gallery 11:11