Carvings reflect conservation ranger’s love of birds

One of the exhibits at the Town Office Building looks like it could almost take flight.

Jane Layton has been carving birds and working part-time for the Lincoln Conservation Department for 26 years. Her carvings at the library, which are on display until April 1, include local favorites such as the white-breasted nuthatch and the chickadee as well as puffins, a golden-crowned kinglet and more.

Layton, who has a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, is largely self-taught as an artist. “I decided to give it a try after seeing a wonderful display of birds on the cape back in the 1980s,” she said. Now she spends much of her free time teaching carving in Concord and Lexington as well as making her own. Each bird is carved in basswood, textured with a burning pen and painted with acrylics, and takes  from several days to several months to carve, depending how large and complicated it is.

“I’ve carved birds from all over the world but still love carving chickadees, the first species I ever carved,” Layton said.

Pictures of her carvings, which are priced starting at $365, can be seen on Layton’s website, www.finebirdcarvings.com. She also sells free-standing relief carvings for $100 to $150.