This week, I have been working on a beautiful magpie commission! Due to my ethics and the clever nature of corvids, I don’t get to work with them often.

This particular specimen was found as a result of a probable window strike as it was found in close proximity. I don’t know what it is about corvids, but there is something extra special about them that sets them apart from the rest of the bird families. I adore them and it is a privilege to get to know them inside and out, quite literally.

My superstitious nature made me a little sceptical about just doing one…but the fact I feature two magpies in my logo, have two tattooed on me and the overall resplendence of this creature shall protect me from any bad luck that ‘one for sorrow’ may bring!

Although they are amongst my favourite birds to work with, they are also amongst my most challenging, mainly because of their high contrast with the black and white. It leaves little room for error as lack of symmetry becomes a lot more obvious, especially around the mantle area which overlaps the brilliant white scapular feathers. On the contrary, this a bird that also teaches me a lot, because I can visibly see feathering defects easier and I can more easily adjust them.

Check out the video below for some behind the scenes footage of the taxidermy process whilst I work on this beautiful specimen and don’t forget to check back for the finished article very soon!

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As some of you may know from my previous blog post, I have had my commission book closed for some time now and it’s about time I gave you an update.

I am absolutely delighted to be a part of the For Nature group art exhibition once more this year, please do come and visit!

Since the UK’s divorce from the European Union, navigating the rules and regulations of the .gov site and wading through an ocean of grey area, it’s left taxidermists like myself with confusion fatigue.

To the lovely folk that read my blog updates – thank you for spending some time with me to be here! This little taxidermy update may not have such a sense of direction, but it is an update nonetheless.

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I recently mounted a beautiful little white Rhea chick and thought that the marble base that I had in stock would compliment him perfectly, but there was a big chunk missing from it!

I know this isn’t strictly taxidermy related, but I am claiming this little nook of the internet to introduce you to the man that has planted the seed in my mind for my next creative journey – The wonder and needle felting artist that is House of Felts!

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With over 5000 deaths of crane recorded in Israel and a similar number of barnacle geese deaths in the UK, not to mention thousands of poultry being culled, the recent outbreak of bird flu is of significant concern.

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