Chainsaw artist Dan Richey's latest creation is generating a lot of positive reactions at a north Nanaimo neighbourhood. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

new addition

‘Now Gail’s got her prized eagle:’ Nanaimo couple transforms tree into head-turning art piece

Apr 7, 2023 | 6:13 AM

NANAIMO — A different kind of eagle has its eyes on a north Nanaimo neighbourhood where the majestic bird is often seen soaring overhead.

Gail Lambourne and her husband decided to reshape a cedar tree in the front yard of their Bayshore Dr. home into a wildlife-themed carving topped with a bald eagle clinging onto a salmon.

The couple hired a longtime commercial chainsaw artist to make their vision come to life.

Following more than a week the project was recently completed.

Lambourne said its been fun interacting with people curious about the new addition to the neighbourhood.

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“They love it and they bring their kids and they just go crazy over it,” Lambourne said, who noted a few kids happily took home a few scraps from the tree as souvenirs.

Despite the wood carving situated on a private lot, the public is welcome to check it out.

“You need to walk around the whole thing to properly enjoy it,” Lambourne told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Lambourne provided artist Dan Richey with a template of what she wanted after he produced several wood carvings for her son.

Richey said it was interesting seeing the reactions of people passing by as he was perched on a scaffolding unit early on in the project.

“At first people were asking ‘What the heck is he doing up there?’”

The final product looked much different than the original blueprint.

While he could envision where the eagle’s head would be situated, he said the angle of its wings needed to follow the contour of a remaining extended branch.

“It was just a matter of removing the wood and seeing how it’s going to develop and it just came to this position, it just formed that way,” Richey said.

The Lambourne’s partially trimmed cedar tree just prior to getting a significant overhaul. (Ries Vink)

He used a range of chainsaw bit sizes to achieve various depth refinements and grooves in the wood.

Flashes of blue paint highlight a dolphin, whale and salmon twirling up the tree.

Despite heavy chunks of de-limbed arms of the tree brought down, Richey said the tree is healthy and thriving.

“This tree will be around for many years to come, it will outlive all of us by far,” Richey said.

Gail’s husband Vern said he’s thrilled with the finished product.

“We look out on the water all the time and it’s always been enlightening every day and we see the eagles nesting in the trees down below and now Gail’s got her prized eagle sitting in her front yard,” he said with a smile.

Vern and Gail Lambourne couldn’t be happier with the unique new addition to their front yard. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes