One of my favourite bird carvings...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Common Loon (Gavia Immer)

Shown here are two photos of a wooden Common Loon by carver Ron Sadler which he created in 1983 and which I purchased many years ago.  

The Common Loon is a log-bodied diver, native to North America and inhabiting coastal waters and the large southern lakes.   They are considered  by many to be an ultimate symbol of wilderness.   Ron Sadler, born in Essex County, southern Ontario, after a formal education, was drawn into wood carving and sculpture, establishing his company The Decorative Decoy in 1984.   

  This example is dated 1983 and is considered to be one his earliest works.    It appears the company suffered to the Canadian Recession in 1998/1990. He moved to Delhi, Ontario, in 2008, where he continued as Ron Sadler Woodcarving, Delhi.   Ron Sadler died in 2020.

I very much like this carving because of Mr. Sadler's sculpting skills and artistry, but it is especially appealing to me because of my own fascination with the Common Loon itself. His company suffered due to the Canadian Recession of 1989/1990 and it appears he moved to Delhi, Ontario, in 2008, where he continued as Ron Sadler Woodcarving, Delhi.   Ron Sadler died in 2020.

 For years, as a young canoeing enthusiast and canoe tripper throughout southern Ontario, in places like Algonquin Park and the Haliburton highlands, I became enraptured with the call of the Common Loon.   To this day, I believe the Common Loon should be Canada's national bird. 

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder