MATC Matters

Don Anderson, senior network specialist in Technical Services, walked away with First Place and Honorable Mention awards for his entries in the Ward World Wildfowl Championship. The competition of wildfowl carvers from all over the world included entries from Japan, England, Canada, Russia and Australia.

Says, Don, “I’ve been wood carving about three years now, of which almost all of that time my main interest has been power carving birds…I entered in the Novice Carvers Division for beginner carvers or carvers who haven’t entered a carving in the competition before.” This was the first time Don has ever entered such a competition.

He explains “There are many classes of carved birds. For example—waterfowl, shore and game birds, song birds and birds of prey. Mine were in the shore and game birds section (the Woodcock that won a first place) and the songbird section (Cedar Waxwings that won honorable mention). The Woodcock is sitting in leaves, which were made from a brown paper bag. The Cedar Waxwings were my first attempt at doing an open wing bird. The habitat for the carvings also must be handmade or carved. I used a paper bag to make the leaves and made the branch for the Waxwings from scrap pieces of wood.”

Congratulations, Don!