The Mustached Kingfisher is a rarely documented kingfisher native to the Solomon Islands off Papua New Guinea. Only a female specimen had ever been captured up until 2015, when a live male was caught and euthanized for further study. The act caused quite an uproar, and I admit the photos of Chris Filardi holding the dapper little fellow broke my heart upon the news of his death. However, Chris has gone in to great detail on the amount of research and safe calculations of the species' numbers with locals of Solomon Island before choosing to take the specimen back. It can never be an easy choice for a field biologist to euthanize any creature, but they do it to study the species and find out all they can to preserve those endangered creatures for the good of the whole. This piece was created to immortalize the unlucky little kingfisher who died for the good of his kin.
MATERIALS: wool, fabric, clay, and metal mounted on wood
SIZE: 17" x 15" x 6"
You can find more angles of this piece and even purchase it at https://www.dancingvulturedesigns.com <3