During our meeting with the composers, artists, scientists, and conservation experts at the Bishop Museum in December, we had the chance to take a look at some of Haruo Uchiyama's latest creations: extremely life-like carvings of Hawaiian forest birds. The Dec. 17/Jan. 18 issue of "Hana Hou!" the Hawaiian Airlines magazine features an article on Uchiyama, a master woodcarver from Japan who has specialized in sculpting birds. He was (is?) in residence at the Bishop Museum, working to create a number of wood carvings of endangered and extinct Hawaiian forest birds. Because the feathers of the actual specimens in the Bishop Museum collection are easily damaged when exposed to light, they cannot be displayed for any extended length of time. These carvings will allow the museum to display life-like sculptures on display indefinitely. You can read more about him and his Hawaiian bird woodcarving project here: 

Bishop Museum blog (April 19, 2017)
​Hawaii Public Radio Broadcast (Sept. 23, 2016)
Haruo Uchiyama's website
Mr. Uchiyama's blog, including some photos of his working process