No. 14 — The Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
Hand-carved songbird by Geoffrey “G.B.” Davis

Materials: White Pine, Glass, Steel, Maple, and Tinplate
Dimensions: 5 1/2" L × 2 1/2" W × 4" H
Finish: Traditional milk paint, waxed and buffed
Status: Available

Description
I love the Ovenbird’s unmistakable “teacher, teacher, teacher” call echoing through the woods. When I was planning my solo trip along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, I spent a lot of time in one of Indiana’s wildest parks—Shades State Park. I would hike out to one of the wilderness campsites to test my gear, get in shape, and hone my birding skills.

One evening I was reviewing bird songs on an iPad when several male Ovenbirds suddenly began diving and calling around me, defending their territory from what they thought was an intruder—me. I learned an important lesson that day: not to play recorded bird songs in the field. It can cause stress and real health impacts for wild birds.

This bird was carved as a student demonstration at Snow Farm, an artists’ retreat in western Massachusetts where I teach each summer.

About the Project
This bird is part of 50 Little Birds, a collection of hand-carved Indiana songbirds by artist Geoffrey “G.B.” Davis. Each bird represents a species found in Indiana and is inspired by the artist’s personal encounters with birds in the field. Carved from softwoods and painted with traditional milk paints, the birds are small objects meant to be held, studied, and shared. In this collection, every bird has a story.

Closer
Each bird in the series is offered as an individual piece, but together they reflect an ongoing body of work shaped by observation, memory, and a lifelong love of birds.

Availability
Each bird is carved and painted by hand. If this particular bird has already found a home, I am always happy to carve another for you. Because every bird is handmade, each will have its own unique character.