Meet the sculpture that inspired Walter, perched atop Wild Birds of North America, page 323, plate 19—the very spot where he first met Gypsy.
Walter was carefully crafted using a combination of materials: his feet are sculpted from clay, he perches on realistic clay tree bark, and his body was formed using a taxidermy mannequin wrapped in craft feathers and a feather boa. Held together with Elmer’s glue, his look captures the essence of a crow—without a single bird being harmed in the process.
This handmade creation became the spark for Sea Horses in the Olive Jar, where Walter takes flight as a character full of quiet love and adventure.
