I was perusing the archives about carving bird bodies and also wrapping with excelsior. I have done excelsior way back with the Northwestern School of Taxidermy course many years ago. I am wondering what any of you bird experts would do with a Quaker Parrot? I do not have it yet but will get it tomorrow. I am told it is the size of robin. Is there a bird form already manufactured that will work as a substitute or should I just wrap or carve one? I just need a little guidance please.
Thanks in advance,
Todd B
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Look up reference pictures - they are easy to find. Quaker Parakeet, Quaker Parrot, or Monk Parrot (parakeet) are good terms to use.
They are green on the back and grey with maybe some orange on the mid to lower breast. The breast will show the shingled feather effect, the back is more sleek and smooth. They are larger then a robin, more the size of a mourning dove. The tail is long. The feet are a dark gray with black claws. Don't overplump feet when injecting, as parrots have beefy feet but never swollen unless very ill or injured.
The beak sheath is orang-ish (make sure to rot the beak sheath off and clean the skull before using it with your custom-made, wrapped form, or carcass cast).
Measure the eye with calipers for proper mm size, after injecting it with an insulin syringe to make it back to it's living size.
Use reference photos (people usually take GREAT shots of their pets and Quakers are VERY popular) and then use this to get custom eyes made. Or use the closest thing you can find after viewing reference.
Last, as Quakers are on CITES, to prove the domestic ancestry, leave the closed leg band on the bird! Do not remove and do not toss any bill of sale, papers from owner, etc.!
I still wrap just about as many bodies as I carve or pour.. A good wrapped body is just as good as any foam body.
I do not think their are any pre-made form available for a quaker.. nor do I think there would be anything of similar anatomy that you could get by with.. parrots in general have a little different anatomy than your average upland or waterfowl. Pay close attention when skinning to the legs, where they attach and how they move. Also, pay close attention to how and where the neck attaches.
like stated above, use your reference for eye color and cere color and shape.
Good Luck!
Jon