Owl Wood Sculpture by Jason Tennant

Learn about Jason Tennant and his amazing handmade bird scupltures.

Jason uses vintage pieces of American Chestnut trees that he finds on his parcel of land located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. In the video by Etsy below, you can see just how much work goes in to making these beautiful sculptures.

To see more of his work, visit  Jason’s Etsy Shop

Beautiful Boxes by BirdProject

BirdProject creates black glycerin soaps shaped like a bird. As you use the soap, a clean ceramic white bird is revealed!

I really love this very creative idea! Plus, 50% of the proceeds of each sale go to the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) and the Gulf Restoration Network.

From the BirdProject:

Through the daily act of washing, you will eventually free the clean, white, ceramic birds inside – potent symbols of restoration and recovery. The soap is shaped to be cradled in your hand and is a powerful representation of all creatures affected by the spill.

In order to get started, the BirdProject idea was presented on Kickstarter by Tippy Tippens, an industrial designer. If you’re not familiar with Kickstarter, it’s a place where anyone can present an idea in an effort to get funding. The creators get a limited amount of time to raise their desired amount. The best part is me, you or anyone else can fund an idea!

In the case of the BirdProject, they placed a wonderful video (which is below) and a very nice written description on Kickstarter. They asked for $2500, which was just half of what the initial run of soaps would cost.

The idea was a huge success and they reached their goal in just 5 days! Over the next 25 days, they more than doubled that amount. So the entire cost of the initial run was covered!

BirdProject Soap and White Ceramic Birds by BirdProject

Another reason I really like this idea is how responsible BirdProject is when it came to the ingredients and manufacturing process. From the BirdProject Kickstarter description:

BirdProject provides work to the area by teaming exclusively with local artists, suppliers, and manufacturers and building positive partnerships between a range of New Orleans communities. Working with community and education based Operation Reach and Stretching Sky Arts Laboratory helps highlight this important issue in the minds of teenagers as well as teaching new skills in both green technologies and entrepreneurial creativity.

The soap is made by Emily Manger Davis of Sweet Olive Soap Works who is a third generation soapmaker from Louisiana.

The soaps are manufactured from natural, locally sourced ingredients: biodiesel glycerin from Operation Reach, fair trade olive oil, aloe, activated black charcoal, and a light cypress scent – reminiscent of Louisianan bayous.

The BirdProject is the launch product of MATTER. To learn more, be sure to visit the BirdProject blog. I really like how they show us the entire process. For example, in one post you can see them testing different ceramic bird sizes and in another they show you the ceramic mold making process. BirdProject also has a Facebook Page and Twitter account.

Blue and White Ceramic Birds by BirdProject

The BirdProject soap is just $24. There is also a limited edition soap for $34 that contains a blue ceramic bird. There are only 500 in the limited edition series, so I would get them quick!

Visit the BirdProject Shop to see all the products that are available!

iPhone Bird Wallpaper by Josh Brill

If you love birds and have an iPhone or iPod touch, then you must check out these free iPhone bird wallpapers from Lumadessa. Lumadessa is an art and design label by Josh Brill based out of Portland, Maine. The free iPhone wallpapers give you an idea of what his unique artwork looks like.

Last I checked, he has nearly 20 bird prints for sale in his Flora Fauna: Bird Editions collection. He also has a couple in his Extinct Editions collection. He donates a portion of the profits to animal and environmental charities.

Currently, 6 different iPhone bird wallpapers are available. The easiest way to use them as your wallpaper is to visit Lumadessa’s iPhone background website at http://shop.lumadess.com/pages/iphone on your iPhone or iPod touch. Then place your finger on the image you want and keep it there until a dialogue box appears. Choose “Save Image” and the wallpaper will be saved to your device.

Then just change your wallpaper as you would normally. Click on the Settings icon and choose Wallpaper. The newly downloaded wallpaper should be in your “Camera Roll”.

2010 Gulf Oil Spill T-Shirt by IBRRC

Show your support for the birds and other animals caught in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and those who have helped and who are still helping to rescue them by purchasing this limited edition Gulf Oil Spill T-shirt!

On the front of the shirt there are several different species that were rescued, rehabilitated and returned to the wild. They are the: Northern Gannet, Laughing Gull, Least Bittern, Tricolored Heron (AKA Louisiana Heron), Sandwich Tern, Great Egret, Brown Pelican, Reddish Egret, King Rail, Magnificent Frigatebird, Black Skimmer, Roseate Spoonbill, Royal Tern and Green Sea Turtle. The right sleeve also has the words International Bird Rescue Research Center printed on it.

Closeup of the desgin for the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill T-Shirt by IBRRC

This is a limited edition t-shirt. Only 1,000 of them are being made. So you might want to hurry! All proceeds from the sale of these shirts support the International Bird Rescue Research Center.

If you want to learn more about what they do, have a look at a few of the previous articles I’ve written about the IBRRC on Burdr. Also visit the IBRRC website and blog.

You can purchase your own Limited Edition Gulf Oil Spill T-Shirt in IBRRC’s online store. Hey, I ordered mine!

Sage Grouse with Puffed out Sacks by vividcorvid

Can’t get outside? Then bring the sounds of birds inside with the free Soundscapes for Birders podcast!

Kevin J Colver has created this superb free podcast. The high quality of the podcast comes from years of experience recording bird songs.

From Kevin’s website:

Since 1989, I have been recording the songs of birds in nature’s wild places.  With an emphasis on birding by ear, my recordings have concentrated on bird song and calls throughout the western United States.  These recordings have been shared with the public in my Songbirds series of CDs which introduce the birds of major western national parks.  I was then fortunate to assemble the work of many generous recordists in the comprehensive reference work “Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs: Western Region.”  Since that time my recording activities have expanded to include the audio documentation of wild and threatened soundscapes from the Rio Grande in Texas to the ANWR in Alaska.

There are nearly 40 episodes available for download so far! You can listen to them all on Kevin’s Soundscapes for Birders website or subscribe to Kevin’s Soundscape for Birders podcast in iTunes.

To get an idea of the quality of these podcasts, listen to one of the latest episodes that was recorded at the Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area in Massachusetts on Kevin’s website or in iTunes. So relaxing!

Kevin’s description of the Muddy Brook podcast:

A breezy dawn in this northeastern woodland is filled with the songs and calls of Wood Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Spring Peeper, Red-winged Blackbird, Plain Titmouse, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-capped Chickadee, American Redstart, Blue Jay, American Crow, Baltimore Oriole, and American Goldfinch.

Another one of my favorite episodes is called the Greater Sage Grouse Lek. I actually have this episode playing now in iTunes!

Do you have any other favorite bird related podcasts? Share them in the comments!

Metal Bird Scuplture by Joe Pogan

Artist and welder Joe Pogan creates unique metal sculptures of birds and other animals from various metal objects.

From Joe Pogan’s bio:

Joe Pogan is a proud native of Oregon currently residing in Aloha. After serving four years in the Navy, he attended college to study art and welding. More than twenty years as a professional welder has enabled him to move up to the precise and demanding task of welding aluminum frame mountain bikes. He’s used his unique combination of welding expertise and artistic talent for the last several years to create an amazing variety of animal sculptures using fascinating “found metal” objects.

Joe Pogan says:

I create animal sculptures using various “found metal” objects like old watches, sprockets, nuts and bolts. The stranger the piece of metal the better, since the end goal is an eye-catching, fascinating amalgamation of metal with odd nooks and crannies you can explore for hours.

I start by welding a frame to make the general shape. Then I weld or braze the metal objects one at a time, to form the outer shell of the sculpture. I use a “blending” technique that leaves no space between the objects, so the sculpture looks solid. This allows me to hide interesting objects all over each piece, which enhances the excitement of discovery. Some of the works are mounted on a hardwood base that I finish with natural oil.

I hope people enjoy my works as much as I enjoy creating them.

Like Joe says in the first paragraph, I did find myself trying to see what objects I could find. Screws, wrenches, keys, handles to utensils, pretty neat. Joe also does special orders where you can send him items that he will use in the sculpture.

Metal Bird Sculpture by Joe Pogan

In the video below, watch Joe create a bird like the one above. At the very end, you get to see the finished product. Check out the “perch” he chose for the bird!

I really like how he created a “flower” from spoons. Really creative! Be sure to check out Joe Pogan’s Flickr stream to see more photos of his work.

Metal Bird Sculpture With Flower by Joe Pogan

Canon Thermal Travel Mug EF 70-200 f/4.0 L IS USM Lens from Vistek

Are you a birdwatcher who also enjoys taking photos of the birds you watch? Well, this might be for you! It is definitely the coolest thermal mug I’ve seen in awhile!

These mugs were being handed out in the Canon area of the Olympic Press Center in Vancouver. Josh Weisberg of Microsoft was the first to take a photo of it. He sent the image to PDN. They then published it in an article called “Swag Alert!: Canon White Lens Coffee Mug“.

It didn’t take long at all before I saw the mug on all the tech, gadget and photography sites. Someone even created a Facebook Fan Page for the Canon Thermal Mug!

Well, somebody at Canon was listening to all the requests to make them available to the general public. As of today, you can pre-order the Canon Lens Thermal Mug from Vistek for $29.99 (Canadian dollars). The mugs are expected to be released April 16th.

If you’re thinking about getting one, you might want to order it soon. Apparently Vistek is getting slammed!

USB Robot Owl by Rain Rabbit

Now here’s a cute little gadget that’s perfect for the geeky birdwatcher!

I’ve been looking for little USB gadgets for my office and came across this little gem by Cube Works. The USB port on your computer powers the device to make its head turn and eyes blink. Using a button on the owl’s back, you can choose from three different modes of operation called “Active”, Mellow” or “Sleeping”.

The USB Robot Owl is available in four different colors: white, gray, brown and pink. Unfortunately, only a couple of colors are available right now. It comes with a clip and a little tree stump so you can either attach it to the top of your laptop or just set it on your desk.

So simple, yet so cute!

You can purchase the White USB Robot Owl or the Grey USB Robot Owl on Amazon.

Update: The Brown USB Robot Owl is available on ThinkGeek! Yay! That’s the one I really wanted.

iPhone Alarm Clock by BirdBox

BirdBox can turn any iPhone or iPod Touch into nesting box cuckoo alarm clock.

Durrell Bishop and Tom Hulbert of luckbits created nifty little birdhouses to go along with their free BirdBox iPhone application (iTunes link). There are a total of four different birdhouses you can choose from $11.95 (£7.50) to $12.75 (£8.00).

iPhone Alarm Clock Selection by BirdBox

In the short video below you can see just how the iPhone or iPod Touch slides right into the BirdBox birdhouse.

This next video is a bit long, but it shows just about anything and everything you could possibly want to know about the BirdBox iPhone application and birdhouse. Definitely worth a watch if your thinking about getting one.

What do you think? Should I get one?

Greater Bird-of-paradise by Andrea Lawardi

Here are 8 short clips from the BBC documentary called Attenborough in Paradise. Follow along with David Attenborough as he explores the New Guinea forest recording the exotic Birds-of-paradise.

In this documentary, David Attenborough fulfills a childhood ambition to see the Greater Bird-of-paradise in full display. Hopefully, one day I can follow in his footsteps!

I really like the quote from the 1869 book called The Malay Archipelago by Alfred Russel Wallace that David reads towards the end of the documentary. You can hear him read it in the video above. I was going to write it out, but it sounds so much better when he reads it aloud!

From Wikipedia:

The Malay Archipelago is a book by the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace that chronicles his scientific exploration, during the eight year period 1854 to 1862, of the southern portion of the Malay Archipelago including Malaysia, Singapore, the islands of Indonesia, then known as the Dutch East Indies, and the island of New Guinea.

You can purchase Attenborough in Paradise on Amazon.It’s also available from Netflix either on DVD or streaming to your computer.