Replica Flamingos for David Bertka and Neil Patrick Harris

A legally and sustainably sourced flamingo is hard to come by, so I made my own! These are taxidermy replicas made with real (dyed and pigmented) feathers, with cast and sculpted head and legs. Flamingos are pretty hard to source in the US for a few reasons-navigating legalities, an extremely long lifespan (moreso in captivity), and fellow taxidermists wanting to keep their specimen sources confidential. A variety of domestic waterfowl were used to make these, including the domestically raised Chinese goose shown. These are meant to imitate an aged, antique mount, hence the stylized pose and character. Every element was able to be customized, making this a delightful creative challenge. This project utilized my knowledge of anatomy, history, and design, and I learned a few things along the way!

Process Photos

A behind the scenes peek at how these replicas were made.