This bald eagle consists of chicken feathers and all artificial parts. No part of a real bald eagle is used. Even as a taxidermist I am in absolute awe of the realness of this "recreation."

Thoughts?

Jim Day you da man!

Wow. That is truly stunning work.

Amazing. Cecil, I almost hate to ask, but do you know how much they go for? Also, where the heck does he get the numbered Bald Eagle band? Or is that one that he makes and not a real one?

I don't know how much he charges but the comments below the photo says he makes about 30 per year! I have asked on a taxidermy board and should get an answer soon or a link to his website if he has one. I wasn't able to find a website but know he's in Petersburg, Ky.

I'm sure he made the band just as he made the metal feet. I'm pretty sure they are metal anyway.

Feet and beak is resin. $5500

http://www.wildlifeinteriors.com/#!/f-a-q-about-our-birds

The phone number listed for them is a Northern Kansas number area code 785

Website:

http://www.taxidermy.net/gallery/recreations/baldeagle.html

Didn't find prices posted. I guess you'd have to contact them for prices and you know what that means!

Well at least they are being compensated for their time. I've seen some really talented artists give away their work and get burned out.

I'm not impressed with the vermiculations on the brook trout at the above link. They're just not correct. You can tell they're not fish guys, but the rest is amazing!

Cecil, I think I have a client that wants one. I'm pretty sure he will want a fish to go with the eagle. Ya think if it comes to be, that you could do the fish and he the eagle? Just something to think about.

Amazing photo!!! "Is it real or Memorex" sp .

On Monday I almost got the real thing for Cecil to mount. Was driving Hwy 100 south of the Browning (runs along the IL river) and a mature bald eagle was eating a road kill in the middle of the road. I figure he would jump up and fly away. But he stayed there and finally jumped up just barely cleared the top of my truck. I had to hit the brakes hard or he would of been in my grill. That would not of been a pretty site for the bald eagle or my grill

I've seen wood carvers make the feet out of metal so I assumed that was the case here.

If it's O.K. with the guy that does the bird. I see Frank Newmeyer does them with Jim Day. Frank is a genius bird specialist but somewhat eccentric. He would probably say no. Don't know anything about Jim Day.

Scott,

Here's another guy that does recreations. One taxidermy poster says his work is even better, but I can't see how it can get much better than the above except for maybe the fish work.

http://www.birdtaxidermy.com/

I did find out not all the feathers are chicken feathers. Some of then are from pen raised Canadian Geese.

Check out this bald eagle Pat did. It's articulated as in it moves.

http://www.birdtaxidermy.com/recreations.php

Ok, now you guys made me do it. I know it's against forum rules plugging your own business, so delete me if need be. But I have to throw this photo up and brag about the wife for a minute. This one is wood, so it is tougher to simulate feathers, but I think she did a pretty darn good job. She tries for realism more than me, but she still wants it to be artfull in some way so realism isn't always the end result. She likes doing the feather burning and painting, unlike me who works in more natural wood forms. Everything is all carved but the legs. It's always funny when people ask where did we find that tree that is just right for it! Sorry that the pic is a bit grainy. It's a photo transferred off a slide.

Fish n chips.

I don't think there is an issue as long as your post isn't done to drum up a business etc.

I'm impressed! Tell your wife she does beautiful realistic work! I've seen too many carvers do things out of scale and cartoonish for my taste.

And please don't set up a taxidermy shop next to me as taxidermy would be a cinch for her. I'll be out of business!

This one was real I think. Apparently in Canada they must not be protected. It looks to be pretty old though.

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a511/Jacob_Foote/eagle_zpscf1070dc.jpg

Poor quality as in anatomically way off.

In Canada you can mount certain birds you can only do so for educational purposes here. In Canada if an xray shows it wasn't shot and died of other causes you can mount a bird can't here in the U.S. Not sure about Bald Eagles.

I am absolutely blown away at how amazingly talented some people are. The taxidermist I use charges $400 for a normal shoulder mount buck. For the life of me, I have no idea how he charges so little but does such a fine job. I have never gotten a fish mounted, but I would like to get several done in the future. I know who(Cecil) I will be sending my fish to when I do...

Thank you for the kind words Travis.

Fish, your wife did some wonderful work on that carving.

The wife says thanks for the compliments. Her style keeps getting more realistic as time goes on. This piece is a bit older. On the flip side, I started with realism and have come to appreciate the artsy side to things more.

Cecil, in my younger years I was toying with the idea of taxidermy. Just had too many things going on to look into it much. I have carved a few fish out of wood over the years. Don't worry, not interested any more, but I may want some of your work if the opportunity is right.

With Jim Day's work on the eagle, I can only imagine that there is some sort of infrastructure that he works from. I would think that includes a post that goes down into the base for support. In this case, the eagles legs are more solid than other postures, so a slender solid stiff wire wouldn't be needed, or it could be completely resin. Perhaps the bird doesn't need a really strong support because it is made from feathers, unlike a wood piece. But I would think the resin is just in the talons/feet and is formed around a pieces of wire that connects bird to base. I don't know Jim Day, I'm just guessing at that. At times, my wife builds her own legs from wrapping wires around a main wire, and various uses of solder, etc.

These are awesome pieces of work!!! I wish I had the talent and patience . Excellent craftsmanship!!

I really like the carving - Beautiful work!

As nice as those birds are I will take Cecil's fish over them any day !

Thank you for the kind words sir!