David Bird has a unique hobby – he builds tiny creatures out of sticks, acorns, ferns, and feathers, which he affectionately calls Becorns. Bird, a toy designer by trade, spent almost five years at Lego in Denmark. After his return to the States, he found inspiration for his new hobby while sweeping his mom’s driveway. He realized that everything he learned at Lego could be applied to acorns and sticks.
Since 2008, Bird has built over 100 Becorns, sometimes spending up to 10 hours handcrafting each one. He brings them into the great outdoors to be photographed and has captured them in various interactions, such as welcoming a wasp, feeding a chipmunk, and even beckoning a bluebird. However, life for a Becorn is surprisingly risky, as they can be eaten by animals.
When asked about witnessing an animal eating one of his Becorns, Bird stated that it’s part of the process and that he enjoys making them, so he’ll just make another. Recently, he’s been able to make selling Becorn prints his full-time job, holding Becorn workshops and gallery shows. People love Becorns because they are familiar yet seem like a whole other world.
Bird captures a part of childhood with his creations, saying, “As an adult, we forget about that feeling of wonder. And to know that other people are feeling that and appreciating that is just amazing to me.”
