Northern shrike with dragonfly

Fellow POTNer's I've been away for awhile. This is what I've been doing. I carve realistic birds out of wood. As this is a bird photo, I think it is ok here. The shrike's nickname is the "butcher bird." It impales its prey (small birds, larger bugs, small rodents) on thorns, barb wire or what ever will work. This allows it to pull the prey apart and even store it for later if it wants.
I should get back to posting more. Thanks.
Rex

Holy ****, Rex! I glossed over the description and was just looking at the shot w/ my gf, going "Wow...he actually got a Shrike w/ something spiked and then I looked really close. I'd have stared at this shot for a while before realizing that was wood if I hadn't re-read your post.

Do you make this stuff available anywhere? Need I say...well done!?

Your carving looks better than some taxidermy I've seen-so it qualifies as a bird in my book. Well done.

Thanks, Eric. No, I don't sell them. I give them to my kids or hang on to them. I'm not a prolific carver, do about one a year.
Thank you, shackleton.
Rex

Wow your work is fantastic! You are really talented!

That's some really nice work there, Rex. Photos included.

Superb work, Rex; I had to look at it a long time too to realize it was wood.
Al

Megadittoes to all the other astonished comments here. Your are a master carver. I would have believed they were real. I tried my hand once and carved and painted a Chickadee. I placed in on a bird feeder and another Chickadee attacked it !

Wonderful shots.

Off the chart skills, even knowing I was looking at a carving I had a hard time believing it.

Thank you , all, for the comments.
Lycome, it's funny because, when I went outside to shoot these, a chickadee came over right away and started scolding it. It soon figured out it doesn't move.
Rex

Well done Rex! You really have great talent there. They are very life-like.

Thanks, Brad.
Rex

Fantastic work Rex. My wife is a sculptor as well. Do you make the legs and feet or do you purchase them? Just curious, I know the metal ones for sale are very sturdy, my wife will uses them on very tiny birds.

Amazing work! Truly a gifted artist!!!