Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship - June 2023

     This event is one of the great highlights of my year, and I look forward to it with eager anticipation. The fact that I was again asked to be a judge only served to increase my pleasure.


     So much talent is in evidence, and a vibrant, artistic community is showcased at its best.
     You have already read of Jeff Krete's success with his rendition of an Ocellated Turkey that was judged Best in Show, but I can't resist sharing some of Miriam's pictures of this majestic tour de force. 




     Every line, every contour, every colour is precise and sublime; the finished carving a true work of art, a depiction of glorious nature in its purest form. One knows, on examining such a piece, that its creator has a sensitivity to the natural world that surpasses mere observation. An inner wellspring of connectivity is represented here.
     Here is Jeff chatting to Wayne Simkin, another world champion, friends, yet rivals in pursuit of excellence.


     As we walk around the show together, I will not even attempt to present the carvings in any logical sequence. Imagine if you will that even as we admire one work, our attention is caught by another. We move back and forth between tables, comparing and contrasting, examining the work of novices and intermediate carvers, comparing them with the maestros who they seek to displace.
    Such is the pleasure of it all.
    Consider the exquisite rendition of this Common Redpoll.


     As judges we examine minute details for accuracy, the pose struck, the proportions of the bird, the rendition of colour, the quality of the habitat, but sometimes it's good to stand back a little and just take in the majesty of the piece and and let one's astonishment take over. 
     The decorative ducks shown below are lifesize and realistic and have to float precisely in imitation of a live duck on the water.



     We took them out to a pond to test  their position on the water,  and their ability to pop up to an upright position when submerged.
     I had forgotten to take my camera with me when I left home, so I have only this distant and woefully poor phone shot of the decoys being decoys!


     Are you not entranced by this Palm Warbler?


     How about this Cerulean Warbler? 


     Snow Bunting is a common winter visitor in our area and several artists paid homage to this captivating little bird.


     A Barn Owl is a species imbued with mystery, subject to countless legends and myths. Humans have both revered and despised it, worshipped and slaughtered it, but it is a very handsome bird, no longer subjected to persecution, thank goodness.


     A Least Bittern won Best of Class in the novice category - perhaps here is a young carver ready to move up and challenge the current aristocracy.



     Ken Hussey has in recent years specialized in the category known as Contemporary Antique and has become an undisputed master of this form. He always has a "corner workshop" at the show and it is both educational and entertaining for visitors to see the process unfold before their eyes.



     Waterfowl, which is after all where it all began, are always very well represented.




     I found this Spruce Grouse very appealing.


     A Scarlet Tanager is a target species for many a local birder.


     A Blue Tit is an enchanting little bird in Europe, quite common in fact and a regular patron of backyard bird feeders.


     It's safe to assert that a Ruby-throated Hummingbird is well-loved by everyone.


     A Northern Parula is a splendid little warbler, one of my personal favourites.


     Unlike the parasitic cuckoos in many parts of the world, Black-billed Cuckoos raise their own young.


     A Saw-whet Owl is always a popular subject.



     There were some fine entries in the Decorative Wildfowl category.


     As best I can recall this female Red Crossbill was the only carving of this species.


     If it seems a little plump it is perhaps puffed up against the cold. 
     For many carvers their worst nightmare is accurately representing the feet of the bird, but a Pied-billed Grebe on the water presents no such problems.


     Here are many of the award-winning waterfowl.


     If the birds were alive the songbirds would flee in terror from this Sharp-shinned Hawk.


     Looks at this exquisitely-rendered little Cape May Warbler (probably being destroyed in their thousands as wildfires rage across the north), with the habitat details so lovingly rendered.



     One of my personal favourites at this year's show was this juvenile meadowlark (Eastern or Western, I am unable to tell). One needed no great flight of imagination to know that it had just left the security of the nest, the only world it had ever known, to face the dangers and the challenges of a life in the wild.


     There was a sense of poignancy in the air as the artists present marked the passing of one of the greatest among them, a Canadian legend, a champion among champions.


     Without doubt many of today's luminaries were guided and influenced by Bruce and his legacy lives on.
     It was a privilege to have known a giant in his field. He will occupy a place of honour in our memories and his deft touch is still present in the work of those he inspired. May his memory be a blessing.
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

43 comments:

  1. ...these are gorgeous and I have the skill set to photograph them. I love things that pose for me!

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  2. Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my. I would have loved to have been there. My jaw dropped even looking at them on screen, but how much better it would be to be there in the flesh.
    Thank you. So very much.

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  3. Stunning! Absolutely stunning! I do not envy you having to judge.

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    1. It’s a responsibility I take seriously, Rita, but I enjoy it immensely. Each team of judges is comprised of two carvers and an ornithologist, so I have the rare pleasure of hanging out with two artists and learning about the process.

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  4. Hari OM
    Thank you for once again sharing all this beauty and skill with us, David... my pick (if I could) would be the Snow Bunting! YAM xx

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  5. Those are all amazing. I would have found it very hard to judge. They each look as though they could take flight at any moment.

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    1. Sometimes there are clear winners, Dorothy, but at other times the difference between first and third is a very narrow margin.

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  6. To my uneducated eyes, this is an amazing display of the sort of birds you show us every day. All so beautiful!

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  7. hello David
    It's not an easy job picking out the most beautiful ones here. When I see these pictures, each one is unique and deserves the win. These are real artists.
    Greetings Frank

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  8. Magic to be able to see these, talented people.

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  9. C'est si réaliste! Je me demande comment ils font les pattes.
    On dirait que le bruant des neiges va s'envoler, difficile de se dire que c'est en bois.
    Bonne journée

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  10. This is really beautiful and lifelike.
    Very nice that they can do this.
    It's really art.
    I enjoyed the photos.
    Greetings Irma

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  11. Wow, they are all beautiful carvings. Amazing details, well done!
    Take care, enjoy your day!

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  12. they are all perfect to me, I would not be able to judge them. Awe inspiring! Awe at the foul and at the creative talent of the artists. so beautiful. Details tell the story

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  13. Amazing, all of them. I must say, my favorite was the snow bunting because it looks as if the feathers on the head are fluffy. How does one achieve that look in carving?
    The work that goes into each and every piece boggles my mind.

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  14. Fantastic exhibition!
    From the incredible photos you shared, it must not have been easy to choose the winners.
    Congratulations to all these extraordinary artists.

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  15. These sculptures are truly beautiful, every one of them. This is my thing: to browse among the art. Just love it!

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  16. The idea of testing in water is very good!

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  17. Amazing talent these artists have. Their work is absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing, David.

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  18. Muy buena exposición. Seguro que tu decisión, será bastante acertada.

    Un abrazo

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  19. How can you even decide who gets the price? These are all stunning. I have to say, my favorite is definitely the Least Bittern, but every single piece is amazing. It must be quite hard to be the judge of such masterful works.

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  20. The works of art that are made there are really amazing. And to think that I have some birds carved by local artists from various regions, including indigenous peoples but they don't even come close to that level. It's wonderful, if I were rich I'd buy them all, haha. In the eyes of someone who is not an expert on the subject, I give first prize to anyone, they are all beautiful.

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  21. I am sure that the items created by indigenous people have great merit, Hernán.

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  22. Wow! I’ve seen plenty of decoys, but the art has reached a whole new level.

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  23. Hi David - they are amazing ... but what a treat to judge with your two fellow artists - you can learn as you go - such a pleasure. All quite extraordinary ... congratulations to them all, especially the youngster coming through the ranks - cheers Hilary

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  24. I'm staggered by the beauty and craftsmanship on show here. The only thing is - I've seen the decoys that the Fenmen used to bring in wildfowl to their guns and they were much more crudely executed but apparently did the job.

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  25. Difficult to choose among all those masterpieces.
    However my favorite is the Barn Owl.

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  26. These are just amazing carvings. I definitely think they are worthy of the first place ribbon. And it's great you're a judge too. Not only do you get to enjoy looking at the art, but you get to help appreciate the best by being a part of the winners decision. I loved seeing all the birds. Some of them almost look real. And the other day I had a scarlet tanager sitting on my garden fence. I haven't seen it since, but when I see them I think of my Mom as those were her favorite birds. Perhaps she was stopping by to check in- at least in spirit. Hope your week is going well. hugs-Erika

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  27. The Canadians used to send a team here every year to produce large carvings. They were amazing. Having said that these small carvings are superb. Bisous Diane

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  28. The barn owl one is my favourite.

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  29. What a beautiful post, and the carvings are amazing.

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  30. I cannot imagine how it must have felt to stand in a room filled with such beauty.

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  31. Hello David,
    I wrote a vomment for two days ago, but it must be lost somewhere. The carwings are all very beautiful. Hugs and kisses, Marit

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  32. I barely know a cardinal and an American robin, but seeing these carvings was amazing. I could barely believe these were NOT real birds. The skill set of these carvers is incredible. There is no way I could ever judge any of these, but I found a few I thought far surpassed anything in real life. They are incredible and the show is lucky to have you as a judge.

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  33. I am not sure if this is the post for Tad because once again I got warned off by Google when I clicked on your name. I somehow got here through a back door and I am so glad I made the effort. As if it isn't hard enough to carve a bird in it's perfect shape, but then these artists have to paint their likeness to perfection. What an amazing selection of art, David ... I love them all. I love the Sharp-Shinned Hawk. We don't see them often here, but we see plenty of their likeness the Cooper's Hawk. And the little Saw- whet Owl. The cutest owl ever. I have never seen one in the wild, but have seen them in rehab facilities and had them on my glove. How about you ... have you seen one in the wild? I could go on and on about each and every carving, but time doesn't allow for that. I hope you get your link fixed ... am I the only one having an issue with it? Anyway, I'm glad I found you and I hope this is a place where you will find my comment :) Be well, David ...

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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    1. Hi Andrea: I have seen Saw-whet Owl several times in the wild, the last time being on Amherst Island, ON in February last year. It is an exceptionally adorable little creature. As for the blog problem I had my "guru" check all my settings and she assures me that my site is secure and no one should be concerned about posting comments. I know of only one other person who has had the same issue as you, but not being an expert (far from it) on computers I don't know what to suggest.

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    2. Andrea, I also have the same issue reaching David. After several attempts by google to scare me off, I now just ignore the threat and click through anyway.

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  34. Niezwykle ciekawa wystawa. Nie wiem, co najbardziej z eksponatów mi się podobało. Niektóre wyglądają jak prawdziwe, np perkozek z numerem 5110 :-) Dobrze, że byłeś sędzią. Na ptakach się znasz jak mało kto! Gratuluję.

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  35. Me parecen todos preciosos y todos merecen un premio. Muy difícil la elección. Un abrazo querido amigo.

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  36. Absolutely STUNNING.

    All the best Jan

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  37. David, like others, it came as no surprise to learn that you were selected as a judge for this carving competition, as your knowledge and talents are well known. Seeing all of these beautifully carved and painted birds brought back memories of attending similar shows on the VA eastern shore. There are so many talented artists and all of these carvings looked as if they could fly away.

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  38. All these sculptures are beautiful in their own way. Thanks to the artist for the little blue tit ;-)

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We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

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