FAQ
Product Details
I proudly sign all of the paper prints by hand in the lower right corner.
Metal and canvas prints have a signature that is printed as part of the picture.
All limited edition prints include a signed certificate of authenticity that shows the edition number and other information.The edition number is shown differently depending on the material:
- Paper prints include the edition number hand-written in the lower left corner.
- Metal prints do not show the edition on the front of the print. Instead, I provide a label that can be adhered to the back of the print with all of the certificate information.
- Canvas prints do not show the edition number on the print. It is shown exclusively on the certificate.
No, the text "www.davidmbird.com" is just a watermark for my website. All of my prints do contain a signature in the bottom right corner, but no other text.
All the measurements are in inches. Here's a link to a website that you can use to convert inches to centimeters.
Metal prints are very resilient and are the best material to withstand the elements. You can display metal prints outside, though I'd caution not to display them in direct sun, as they will likely fade a bit over the course of years.
Metal is the way to go! It's completely resistant to humidity. Paper and canvas are prone to warping over time.
Sure! The bestselling prints are Grey Catbird, Hummingbird, Sparrow Splash, Monarch, and Glowdrop. As winter draws nearer, snowy bird prints like Cardinal and Winter Titmouse become more popular.
Orders + Shipping
Items that I keep in stock are processed within 1-3 business days. This includes:
- Paper prints, size 11x17 inches and smaller
- Cards
- Calendars
Items that are printed on demand take a bit longer. This includes:
- Metal prints process within 3-5 business days.
- Canvas prints process within 3-5 business days.
- Paper prints size 16x16 inches and larger process in 1-10 business days. (These take longer because the printer ships them to me first for a signature.)
These times are estimates, not guarantees.
I do! I ship worldwide.
I've partnered with some international fulfillment partners to make shipping quicker and cheaper. Now calendars, metal prints, and canvas prints all ship from locations based in the US, the UK, and mainland Europe. Paper prints and cards ship from the US exclusively.
Please contact me if your country isn't listed and I will update the website to make it available.
What I Sell vs. Don't Sell
No, I don’t sell the actual Becorns. I reuse them for photos, which streamlines my creative process. If you'd really like a Becorn, you could consider making one yourself. Check out my video gallery for videos that show the building process.
Yes, everything on my website except limited edition prints is available wholesale for 50% the listed price. Please contact me to learn more or place an order.
I am working on some bronze Becorns that will be available sometime in the future, though I'm not sure when. They're a lot more labor intensive than anticipated, so I won't have them in large quantities, unfortunately. I plan to announce them to newsletter subscribers first, so that's the best way to hear when they’re ready. You can sign up at the bottom of this page.
At this time I don’t offer small prints, but I do offer cards, which are 5x7 inches.
Thanks! I am working on a story book! I'm not sure when it will be finished, but I'm excited to share it when it's ready. I will post on social media and in my newsletter when the time comes. You can sign up for the newsletter at the bottom this page.
I also plan to offer a coffee table book at some point. Perhaps I'll make it a goal for 2025. There's so little time!
I’m sorry, I don’t do commissions.
No, I don't offer framing services. All my prints are in standard US sizes, so you have the option of finding an off the shelf frame at a store like Michaels, or having the print to your local framing shop.Personally, I am a fan of these frames from Michaels.
You could also consider a metal or canvas print, which doesn't require a frame. If you're located in Europe, metal and canvas prints are printed locally, so you save on shipping costs and framing costs.
Maybe. Please contact me for a better answer. Prepping images to print beautifully is quite time consuming, so I don't do it for most images. However, there are some print-ready images that aren't listed in my shop. If your image is one of them, I'd happily offer that print for sale.
I do! Please reach out and we can discuss.
I do not sell image files for others to print.
Process
Most of my shots are with a Canon 6D. I’m now using a Canon R5.
My go to lens is the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM EF-Mount Lens
I trigger the camera with a remote control.
I don’t have any tutorials available yet, but I've made lots of videos that show the building process. Here are some links to a couple good ones.
Yes, that’s it in a nutshell. I usually use a birdfeeder to entice the animals, which I place just off camera. I study where the animals like to go, and that’s where I aim the camera. I’ve found it’s nice to set up near my house so I can wait inside with a remote control and a cup of tea. I’ve tried laser triggers and motion detectors, but never had much luck with them. You can learn more about my process by watching videos here.
Here's a list of what I use.
Glue gun. I use an ancient one, but they all seem pretty similar. How about this one? They make low heat glue guns, which are safer for kids, but I've never tried one.
safety glasses
Exacto knife. Not essential, but comes in handy for carving and for starting to drill a hole in hard acorns. Be careful! They're very sharp!
You can just use a sharpie for the faces, but if you want to drill holes, any drill will do. Here's a nice small one. And here's an assortment of drill bits.
I sometimes use regular sewing pins to help hold them together, but if you do that, don't leave the Becorns outside, as it's a hazard to animals.
My Background
I worked on Technic, and Bionicle. Check out my other website to see my toy design work, including an in depth look at the process of designing a Lego Bionicle character.
No, believe or not, there is another David Bird who is a famous ornithologist! We emailed a bit and he's a nice guy. Here's a link to his website.
I used to work as a designer for Lego. My job was to design buildable action figures for their Bionicle line. I fell in love with the process of inventing characters and stories out of abstract parts. The idea for Becorns struck me in 2008, soon after I left Lego. I was sweeping my mom’s driveway and I saw a stick that looked like a bug’s face. I knew nothing about photography at the time, but over time I developed my craft and techniques. My About Me page shows my earliest Becorns and how they evolved.
It’s easy to be patient when you’re having so much fun!
