Thread: Bird's Eye Narrow Leaf Red Ironbark

My understanding about birdseye in most woods is that it is the result of small, aborted branchlets which have begun growing and then failed for one reason or another and then been covered up by the next (and every subsequent) year's growth, but not before creating an isolated irregularity in the grain of the wood.

But that may be limited to certain species. I, personally, wouldn't call what you have in your photo birdseye figuring, but I may be speaking from limited experience.

That said, I wouldn't really know what to call that figuring if NOT birdseye. At an uneducated glance I would say it's a burl, but you would obviously know if it was a burl and probably wouldn't have posted about it.

*shrugs*

Good luck.

Cheers,
Luke

P.S. Beautiful stuff. I'm sure the boxmaking crowd would love to have it.

I have been told that it is from (or at least can be from) bushfires - we've all seen how Aussie trees sprout a myriad of tiny branches out the sides of the trunk after a fire because they need to get some green happening asap.

This came up as we drove through such an area and the comment was "look at all that future bird's eye".

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

I have been told that it is from (or at least can be from) bushfires - we've all seen how Aussie trees sprout a myriad of tiny branches out the sides of the trunk after a fire because they need to get some green happening asap.

This came up as we drove through such an area and the comment was "look at all that future bird's eye".

Yes FF, I would tend to agree.
Such regrowth eg after fire from buds is called "epicormic growth" and is believed to cause such birds eye wood patterms

G'day!

Thanks guys!
Here is a good explanation:
www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=BI9691291.pdf

It is also true that it is not "Original" Bird's Eye such as in Maple and Huon Pine.
So we will need to come up with our own name for this epicormic phenomena!
Side 1 Close up.JPG

AustralianBurls.com - Aussie Hardwoods (Birdseye and Lace Sheoak)

Some nice examples of birds eye and lace sheoak