Pheasants on the Prairie

This site was developed to honor the wild bird that is in abundance in our area. The pheasant is a game bird that was brought to our area in the early 1800's, and since that time has flourished. The pheasant provides to us a bird that is uniquely beautiful in its color, and it provides a unique hunting experience for those who so desire.

"PHEASANTS ON THE PRAIRIE" was started the fall of 1996, with the buying of pipe to bend for the frame. The pattern was taken from a stuffed pheasant, from which a wire model was designed. This model was then taken and it was blown up to the size that was desired.

The pattern was drawn on the floor of a Quonset, and from
there the pipe bender was contacted and the pipe was bent in half rings according to the design for the rooster, hen and chicks.

Next came the putting together of the rings. The rings were connected with the side ribs. Each bird frame was put together as a whole. A pulley and winch system was used in the building to help to hold the birds up until the welding was completed. The birds were then cut in half as to the size, only half of each bird would fit out the door.

Once each frame was completed, then each half was covered with a wire gravel screening. Each half was constructed in the shop and moved out to a lot during the winter months.

The construction of the project was handled by a group of local boys from Regent High School, who worked each night after school and on Saturdays to see the project come together. Slowly the pheasants started to take shape.

The spring of 1997, two beams were located for each bird, and the holes were drilled for each of the pipes. They each set ten feet in the ground, and have a cement slab around them that helps to hold each in place.

Each piece of the birds were raised and set into place. The front
of the birds had to be pulled together and welded. The tails were
put together and added to each bird, and a beak was constructed for each. All the cosmetics of putting the birds together took till the fall of 1997, and which time each was then sandblasted and primed.

Next came the painting of each bird with their majestic colors.
The colors were taken from models and pictures.

In the following year work continued on the site with the completion of the fence, bulletin board, picnic table, and parking lot.

Each site was then sandblasted to remove the rust, then primed and then painted according to their original colorings.

Rooster:

-40 feet tall
-70 feet long
-weight....13,000 pounds

Hen:

35 feet tall
60 feet long
weight...12,000 pounds

Chicks:

15 feet tall
20feet long
weight 5,000 pounds

Fact....It took over $3,000 dollars worth of paint to complete this project