Spalted sparrow - river birch from Sugar Creek

This sparrow was sculpted from spalted river birch wood harvested on a friend’s property along Sugar Creek where it passes through Crawfordsville, Indiana. It is about 5 inches long.

The term “spalting” refers to the black lines formed as fungus works its way through the fissures in the decaying wood. The fungus stops spreading once the wood is dried. This piece has been finished with teak oil.