I’ve used most of my carving time this past six months working on my Hundred Birds Project. As of Friday, I’ve finished birds from 50 different types of wood. When I started the project in December, I gave myself until the end of this year to finish. So I’m right on schedule.

It’s becoming more difficult to find new types of wood. Even getting to 50 was a bit difficult, and I couldn’t have done it without help from several people who sent me wood. And of course Debra and I purchased a few exotic woods that we wanted to see birds made from. I have in the garage six or eight types of wood that I haven’t yet carved, but when those are gone I’ll be looking for new species. I could go buy more exotics, but I’d rather get different types of wood from people around the country.

As an incentive to potential participants, I’m offering to carve a bird ornament for you if you send me a type of wood that I don’t yet have. If you’d like to help out, contact me privately: jim AT mischel.com.

I cut the birds from a block that’s 2″ x 2″ x 4.5″ long. If you have a tree limb that you want to send, it has to be at least 3″ in diameter for me to get a useful bird from it. I prefer older, seasoned wood that’s already dry. But if you have a fresh (green) limb, I’ll take it. Just seal the ends with wax or paint (oil based paint is best, but latex paint or even spray paint will work)  before you send it. That will slow the moisture loss and limit or prevent cracking.

Below are some wood suggestions. If you have one of these types of wood, or any wood that isn’t listed in the bird index (see the link above), I’m almost certainly interested.

Magnolia
Giant Sequoia
California Redwood
Holly
Texas Ebony
Redbud
Red Oak
Yellow Pine
Aspen
Birch
Manzanita
Boxelder
Elderberry
Sourwood
Dogwood
Black Ironwood (southern Florida)
Olive
Blue Spruce
Plum
Willow
Fig (my fig tree died and there weren’t any large enough pieces)

Again, those are just suggestions. If you have any of those woods or something else I haven’t seen, please let me know.