Capital City Carvers

Woodcarving Schools

Attending a wood carving school is a great way to jump to a higher skill level. Here are two good ones to consider.

Renegade Woodcarvers Roundup
A Caricature Carving Experience
October 16-20, 2017
Lebanon, Tennessee

This school brings together 5 nationally known caricature carving instructors, Students will carve with a new instructor each of the 5 days.

Instructors: Gary Falin, Roger Stegall, Sandy Smith, Dwayne Gosnell, Dale Green. Cost $225. Website www.sbrownwoodcarving.com/events. For more information talk with Robert.

Central Florida Woodcarvers Roundup
Wood carving in all its variety.
February 19-22, 20018
Arcadia, Florida

Over 20 wood carving instructors. Choose a different class each day. Registration $8 a day. Each instructor charges an instruction fee and fees for materials for the class. Classes are not yet finalized. Relaxed environment. For more information talk to Barbara who plans to teach again this year.
Website: www.arcadia-roundup.webs.com

Other possibilities. You can find other schools, classes, roundups, shows, and opportunities listed in two wood carving publications: Chip Chats and Woodcarving Illustrated. There's a steady stream of wood carving shows in Florida (or what's left of Florida after Irma's visit!) starting in November and running through March. These shows are a great way to see what other people are carving. Vendors are present at all the shows and you can obtain many wood carving tools and items you see in catalogs and on websites.

Trees, Birds, & Hurricanes

Watching birds become hyper, tall water oaks sway crazily in the winds, and small branches fly everywhere in my neighborhood the last few days, this dedicated bird watcher had to find out where birds go in a hurricane. We find the noise, wind and flying debris frightening, so what is it like for birds? Turns out it depends upon the bird.

Instead of tuning into the Weather Channel, birds have an internal warning system they follow. They can detect changes in barometric pressure that warns them a storm is coming. Some birds simply leave on their fall migratory trips before the storm arrives. I hope they weren't flying south!

A lot of birds don't leave a certain area. They seek shelter from heavy winds in thick bushes, in trees or on branches. Birding.com says "When a bird lands, special muscles make their toes automatically tighten around the branch on which they are perched. This holds them in place during high winds or when they sleep. Birds must make an effort to unclench their toes in order to take off. Therefore, during a hurricane, the birds do not necessarily need to hang on tighter-they need to relax!" Wish we could relax!

Other birds fly directly into a storm. If they survive, they are often carried to areas far from their usual haunts. Then lucky birders get to see such birds as laughing gulls as rare inland sightings. Birds caught up in Irma may turn up in Georgia, western Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. Many will follow rivers to try to get back home after the storm.

Some birds count on their nesting cavities in oaks and pines to keep them safe during the storm. I don't recommend my aging, swaying water oaks to them!   bmann