I get through winter by waiting for American Woodcocks to arrive; their goofy nocturnal displays are my March highlight every year.

This year my friend and colleague Anna Rose brought me to her favorite woodcock spot in Columbus. I made this for her, for her successful master’s defense:

The family friend who went with us to South Carolina has been downsizing, so I knew she didn't want anything to put in her house. I told myself I'd not spent too much time on some bird art for her, but I ended up adoring it anyway.

It's a Yellow-crowned Night Heron she spotted, state bird for me!