Birds

Our colleagues at Gallery Oldham have kindly loaned us some of the birds from their natural history collection.
 

This photograph shows a pair of jays who are the most colourful members of the crow family.  They are hard to see as they are a shy woodland bird but listen out for a screaming call when they are nearby.  They eat nuts, seeds, insects and can be found in most of the United Kingdom living in woodlands, parks and mature gardens.
 
** Did you know?  Jays sometimes eat baby birds and bats but they are mostly non-meat eating.
** Did you know? One of their favourite foods is acorns and they often hoard and store acorns for the Winter months.
** Did you know? Jays can copy (or mimic) other birds sounds.

Jay (Image courtesy of Gallery Oldham)


 






This photograph shows a female great spotted woodpecker.  They have a striking black and white plumage and a red patch on the lower belly.  They chisel into trees to build their nests and find food making a distinctive pecking noise.  They eat seeds, insects and nuts and are common in the United Kingdom being found in woodlands, parks and large gardens.
 
**Did you know?  Woodpeckers can peck up to 20 times per second which can total 8 – 12,000 times per day
** Did you know?  In between the beak and skull there is a cushion of tissue which removes the impact of constant pecking
** Did you know?  The tongues of woodpeckers are very long and the base of their tongues are coiled around the back of their skulls!  This is so they can catch insects more easily…
Greater spotted woodpecker (Image courtesy of Gallery Oldham)



  One of the highlights of the exhibition will be some stunning paper birds by the renowned artist Lucy Jean Green, also known as Name and Colour. Lucy is an artist who specialises in kinetic art and paper sculpture, working out of a small studio in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire.
Creating sculptures and delicate automata by hand cutting paper and hand-crafting brass mechanisms, every piece of her work is unique as she cuts and sculpts everything by hand. Her work is greatly inspired by the shapes, colours, fact and mythology of birds. From the tiniest, most delicate birds to the largest, elegant birds and everything in between, the world of birds is wondrous to her.  
Lucy has always been fascinated by taxidermy and apothecary jars and cabinets. This has played a big role in the way she displays her work inside wooden box frames and bell jars, creating paper taxidermy. She also specialises in creating kinetic paper sculpture. For more information visit Lucy’s website www.nameandcolour.co.uk