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We love showing off creative ways people showcase birds through art. Think, our Birds Make the Art series. Today, we bring you six British birds—made out of Legos, those plastic building blocks of our youth (or at least of my youth).
Bobby Robin, Kingsley Kingfisher and the rest of the gang need your help. Not just the typical conservation call for on-the-ground work—though that’s always welcome. This time, we’re talking action with the click of a mouse.
Their designer, Thomas Poulsom, wants to make six of these birds a permanent Lego collection. For that to happen he needs at least 10,000 supporters; so far, he’s got more than 1,000. (Click here to show your love and tell Lego to make it happen.) Because these plastic sculptures pretty much speak for themselves, here’s a picture of each, with some “biographical” info below from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and from Poulsom who, in addition to thinking up these delights, is a self-described tree surgeon, gardener, and avid birder.
P.S. He’s open to suggestions for the next birds he creates. Send your thoughts his way.
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Bobby Robin: Robins really tickle Poulsom’s fancy. He goes so far as to call them his favorite species. Bobby here is all plumped up after the feast of worms from his inventor-pal.
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Kingsley Kingfisher: Kingfishers, according to RSPB, “fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water’s surface.” Poulsom worried that Kingsley wouldn’t feel at home, so he built the bird what he called a “slice of river and a twiggy perch.” He’s not 100% satisfied with the wings, but hey, we think they’re pretty great. They are made of legos, after all.
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Billy Blue Tit: These blue-yellow-white-green beauties are commonly found throughout the UK but for some islands of Scotland. Poulsom says he loves the birds’ tuft.
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Penelope Puffin: Puffins! In the UK, the RSPB recommends looking for this species at Bempton Cliffs and South Stack reserves; the Farne Islands; the Isle of May; and the Shetland and Orkney Islands. We’ve got them here too, in the northeastern US.
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Gloria Goldfinch: Unlike their American cousins, these European goldfinches have red faces. Poulsom gave Gloria a feeder, a nest, and even three eggs.
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Woody Woodpecker: Woody here is a greater spotted woodpecker (not to be confused with his famous cartoon friend, which could be a pileated woodpecker). Poulsom found inspiration for this guy out his back window: “I sometimes hear woodpeckers knocking away at trees from my apartment. They are pretty easy to spot, with their red flashes.”
All photos and design by Thomas Poulsom.