With this in mind , I set out to purchase my first taxidermy piece . Out of all the options available , I wanted a simple gray pigeon . Magicians are known for using doves , so I wanted something different ! Not only are pigeons unique , but they also tend to blend naturally into various settings due to their laid-back nature . You ’ d be surprised at how colorful these little guys are up close — they ’ re not just all gray , as you might think .

Where does one make such a purchase ? It usually comes down to contacts , but many options can be found online . Prices range from roughly $ 70 to $ 300 , but regardless of the price , make sure the source is a sustainable and humane resource , avoiding anything shady or unethical . While we ’ re using this for an effect , approaching the matter with respect is just basic conduct .

With bird in hand , I decided to name him Anthony Birdain , a tribute to one of my favorite chefs , the late Anthony Bourdain , who hopefully got a good chuckle from this while roaming the ether ! One thing I didn ’ t expect when receiving my pigeon was that the legs are mounted with steel wire to secure the specimen to various decor , such as branches . I found this ideal for keeping him firmly in place on soil or grass . From here , it was just a matter of orchestrating the effect to offer a similar visual to the medieval illusionists — minus the nasty poison .