I always found them a bit creepy. Not as much as my wife thinks a hares mask is creepy, but weird just the same.
My first thought was, "What well behaved birds". My second, "What a waste". Nigel at Lakeland Fly Tying has a couple of them that only come out at shows, and then are placed where no one can reach them. My second thought probably comes from the fact that I don't have the collecting gene. Things have a value to me for their practical use; if I had one of those, it would be bald in 6 months.
Cheers,
A.
I think they would add to any fly shop to give some education about the birds and what part of the birds the feathers come from.
I do have to agree if they were in my tying room I'm not sure they would look that good after a month of taking just one feather, maybe two
Ronnie
Byron,
Is there anything flyfishing related that Charlie doesn't have in that shop? The birds must be new. I didn't see them the last time I was in there.
Dave
Thanks for the pics Byron; I enjoyed them, especially since I once tried to grow my own. You're right about them being rather expensive. They are on Whiting's website for 250 to 400 per bird.
In the background to the last photo is a peacock pheasant. Now that is a special bird, and worth serious money. It would bald even quicker if I got my grubby mitts on it!
Cheers,
C.
AlanB,
He has more birds than that. They are attested throughout his shop.
He has the largest fly fishing/tying book selection I have ever seen in one place.
The Whiting chicken mounts are done by David Roberts at the feather emporium, he does beautiful work!
http://www.featheremporium.com/mounted_birds.html