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| American Oyster Catcher, Haematopus palliatus 2004 confidence decoy style Personal Collection |
| American Avocet - (Recurvirostra americana) Carved in 2004 confidence decoy with removable legs. D. Elliot Green Bank, WV |
| Did You know? The Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus, is a medium-sized plover. Adults have a brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with two black bands. The rump is tawny orange. The face and cap are brown with a white forehead. They have an orange-red eyering. Their breeding habitat is open fields or lawns, often quite far from water, across most of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with isolated populations in Costa Rica and Peru. They nest on the ground in an open area with a clear line of sight, or on a gravel roof. They are migratory in northern areas and winter as far south as northern South America. They are rare vagrants to western Europe, usually late in the year. These birds forage for food in fields, mudflats, and shores, usually by sight. They mainly eat insects. Four Killdeer eggs in their characteristic pattern. Three Killdeer eggs in a nest close to a storm drain in Portsmouth, Virginia.Their name comes from their call, frequently heard. These birds will frequently use the "broken wing act" to distract predators from their nests. Their ability to exploit a wide range of agricultural and semi-urban habitat has helped keep them common and widespread in their range |
The familiar Killdeer, Charadrius
vociferus is depicted above
perched over a train rail tie.
Carved out of pine, black walnut
and oak.
A common visitor to our area. I
was inspired by a nesting pair at
our church parking lot. A very
interesting species, which as it's
scientific name describes, mounts
an elaborated charade to loudly
convince and stir away potential
nest/nestling predators. The act
involves a seemingly injured bird
flapping an apparently broken
wing in a helpless attempt at
flying away. The predator gets
fooled by the acting killdeer and
the nest is safeguarded.
Private Collection
Purcellville, VA
vociferus is depicted above
perched over a train rail tie.
Carved out of pine, black walnut
and oak.
A common visitor to our area. I
was inspired by a nesting pair at
our church parking lot. A very
interesting species, which as it's
scientific name describes, mounts
an elaborated charade to loudly
convince and stir away potential
nest/nestling predators. The act
involves a seemingly injured bird
flapping an apparently broken
wing in a helpless attempt at
flying away. The predator gets
fooled by the acting killdeer and
the nest is safeguarded.
Private Collection
Purcellville, VA
| Right picture a 2005 decoy style Solitary Sandpiper carved from pine and black walnut. The base is made out of a round of an old locust post. The finished piece is painted to depict species distinctive markings. H. Zemack Pennsylvania |
| A family picture |
| At left the final Black Oystercatcher. The base is made out of cherry wood and was smoothed out to resemble a sand dune. A clam shell lays nearby carved from the same piece and painted with gesso rubbed with wax. Private Owner San Francisco, CA |
| Did you know? Oystercatchers, contrary to what their name would suggest, rarely feed on Oysters. Also, those individuals that feed on soft like-sand/mud substrates sport longer beaks than the ones that frequent rocky jagged coasts. |
The American Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani, also called Western Black Oystercatcher, is a conspicuous black bird found on the shoreline of western North America. It ranges from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the coast of the Baja California peninsula. The American Black Oystercatcher is the only representative of the oystercatcher family (Haematopodidae) over most of its range, overlapping slightly with the American Oystercatcher (H. palliatus) on the coast of Baja California. Within its range it is most commonly referred to as the Black Oystercatcher, although this name is also used locally for the Blackish Oystercatcher and the African Black Oystercatcher. Its scientific name is derived by John James Audubon from that of his friend John Bachman. The species is not considered threatened. |
| For comments about this website E-mail jose@birdofwood.com or birdofwood@yahoo.com |
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Sanderling
(Calidris alba)
A small and
pale sandpiper.
It winters along
the West Coast.
Carved out of
Yellow Pine.
The beak is
inserted and
carved out of
black walnut,
legs are cast
metal and eyes
glass. Base is
made out of
American
chestnut. All
feathers are
detailed with a
pyrographic
pen and then
painted with
acrylics to
resemble the
species feather
markings.
Personal
Collection
(Calidris alba)
A small and
pale sandpiper.
It winters along
the West Coast.
Carved out of
Yellow Pine.
The beak is
inserted and
carved out of
black walnut,
legs are cast
metal and eyes
glass. Base is
made out of
American
chestnut. All
feathers are
detailed with a
pyrographic
pen and then
painted with
acrylics to
resemble the
species feather
markings.
Personal
Collection
| Above and left- A frozen in action concept of a Sanderling piper. An extended leg, a turned head and on the run legs. Rustic soldered copper legs and Chestnut base. Bronze wash. I like the natural look of the wood and base. The photo fails to grasp the drama. Private Collection Purcellville, VA |
| Below, the third and last Sanderling just completed. White Pine with an inserted and formed Black Walnut beak. Legs formed out of rustic soldered copper with bronze finish. Base made from a Chestnut block. Signed and numbered. Private Collection Purcellville, VA |
Pectoral Sandpiper- (Calidris melanotos)
Right photos- A shorebird about 9 inches.
Breeds along the northern coast of Alaska. It
is set on dowel rod decoy style. Carved out of
yellow pine with inserted beak. All feathers
have been detailed and painted using acrylic
gouache. Glass eyes and a simple dry locust
base. Very nice life-like looking bird. The entire
carving stands 10 inches tall.
Collins
Green Bank, WV
Right photos- A shorebird about 9 inches.
Breeds along the northern coast of Alaska. It
is set on dowel rod decoy style. Carved out of
yellow pine with inserted beak. All feathers
have been detailed and painted using acrylic
gouache. Glass eyes and a simple dry locust
base. Very nice life-like looking bird. The entire
carving stands 10 inches tall.
Collins
Green Bank, WV
Below -Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
a common visitor to the Eastern shores of
the U.S. Carved out of white Pine with hand
hammered copper legs and soldered toes.
Detailed and painted in the Specie's best
attire.
Peña-Vélez
Culebra Island
a common visitor to the Eastern shores of
the U.S. Carved out of white Pine with hand
hammered copper legs and soldered toes.
Detailed and painted in the Specie's best
attire.
Peña-Vélez
Culebra Island
A Black-Necked Stilt Male
(Himantopus mexicanus) A close kin to the
American Avocet. 15 inches in length and
nearly 17 tall. The legs are handmade out of
hammered and formed copper for strength.
Feather groups are detailed for realism,
painted with quality artist acrylics and epoxy
paint for the metal legs.
Personal Collection
(Himantopus mexicanus) A close kin to the
American Avocet. 15 inches in length and
nearly 17 tall. The legs are handmade out of
hammered and formed copper for strength.
Feather groups are detailed for realism,
painted with quality artist acrylics and epoxy
paint for the metal legs.
Personal Collection
RED HEAD duck - A beautifully grained cedar
wood block. Pegged head and neck held by
old cut nail. 2007
Rittenhouse, G.B.,W.V.
wood block. Pegged head and neck held by
old cut nail. 2007
Rittenhouse, G.B.,W.V.