For the birds

Frontiersman

&#8220Roasted duck, fried chicken and the great American eagle.”

Thursday at Pioneer Peak Elementary school, retired Palmer woodworker Jay Wickham did his best impersonation of the old Johnny Carson bit &#8220Carnac,” although his audience - Diana Sloan-Basner's second-grade class - was a bit too young to appreciate it.

Wickham gave the answer before reading the student-initiated question aloud - &#8220What are your favorite kinds of birds?”

Jokes aside, Wickham still provided plenty of fun for the second-graders, as he brought with him a cadre of volunteers, a box of hammers and nails, some wood and, of course, his sense of humor. The order of the day was building birdhouses, and the students jumped right into their projects.

&#8220This is so much fun, isn't it?” Wickham asked rhetorically. &#8220These little guys really get after them. Some of the birdhouses don't turn out as good as they could, but these kids work hard on them, and that's all that counts.”

Wickham is known around the Valley as Santa Claus' alter ego at the holidays, as he makes and delivers hundreds of toys from his Palmer workshop. He said he's volunteered to lead the students in the birdhouse projects for a couple of years now.

&#8220Oh, the kids like it and I get a kick out of it too, I guess,” he said.

Last Thursday, each student listened carefully, first using wood glue and then nails to put together the birdhouse.

Each student worked with a partner, and the team created two birdhouses. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that only one thumb got whacked by a misguided hammer.

&#8220Look at her. That hurt, but she's right back making her birdhouse,” Wickham said, admiring the girl's resolve to not let tears interfere with the construction.