Every Metalbird starts the same way.
Not in a factory. Not on a spreadsheet.
But in a shed, with a sketch, and an idea.
We’ve come a long way since the first bird silhouette was cut in my Grey Lynn shed.
But the process... the heart of it... hasn’t changed much.
This is the story of how one Metalbird goes from local steel to backyard sculpture.
The First Step: The Idea
Every bird starts with a thought.
Maybe it’s:
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A species we’ve seen in the backyard
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A bird someone’s emailed us about
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A memory of someone who loved a certain silhouette
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A bird that carries meaning in a new region we’ve expanded into
It starts on paper.
Pencil sketches. Scrappy lines. Eraser marks where the beak went weird.
We draw, redraw, stare at it from the side, redraw again.
Because getting a bird into steel isn’t about copying a photo.
It’s about capturing the feeling of flight in a frozen moment.
Next Comes the Prototype
Once we’re happy with the sketch, it goes digital. But just barely.
We don’t overdesign it. We keep it simple.
Because the magic of a Metalbird is in its honest, minimalist silhouette.
Then we cut the first prototype.
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Is the balance right?
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Will it catch the light properly?
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Does it look like a bird, or like something you’d see on Halloween? (It happens.)
Sometimes the first cut is perfect.
Most of the time, it’s not.
So we tweak. Adjust. Cut another.
The Local Workshop
Once the design is locked in, it’s time to make the real thing.
And here’s where Metalbird stays true to its roots: we make it locally. Always.
If you order a bird in New Zealand, it’s cut from New Zealand steel, in a Kiwi workshop.
Same goes for Australia, the US, the UK, Europe... we keep it close to home.
We work with:
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Local steel cutters
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Small workshops
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Real people, not mass production lines
Because we want the bird in your garden to have local fingerprints on it... not just a barcode from overseas.
Cutting the Bird
The birds are cut with laser precision, but that doesn’t mean the process is cold.
Every piece of steel is handled by someone who knows what they’re doing.
They check the lines. They stack the silhouettes.
They make sure each cut feels right.
This isn’t an assembly line. It’s craft at scale.
Why Corten Steel?
We use Corten steel for every Metalbird because:
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It develops a protective patina that seals and protects the bird over time
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It forms a shield of surface rust that actually stops the bird from deteriorating
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It changes with the seasons, just like life does
When you install a Metalbird, you’re not just adding art... you’re starting a time-lapse of natural weathering.
That’s part of the design.
Into the Box
Once the bird is cut, cleaned, and checked, it goes into one of our eco-friendly boxes.
No plastic. No fuss. Just cardboard and care.
We pack each bird like we’re sending it to someone we know personally. Because often, we are.
The Delivery
From there, it’s shipped from local depots, not halfway across the world.
That means:
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Fewer freight miles
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Faster delivery
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Less environmental impact
And it keeps jobs and craft in local communities, where they belong.
The Installation
Here’s the best part:
Once the bird arrives, you finish the story.
You:
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Pick the spot
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Hammer it in
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Step back and smile
Maybe it’s a tribute. Maybe it’s a gift. Maybe it’s just because you love birds.
Whatever the reason, the sculpture becomes part of your place.
Why We Still Do It This Way
Could we scale up? Sure.
Could we outsource everything and cut costs? Probably.
But we won’t.
Because Metalbird isn’t about volume. It’s about meaning.
It’s about:
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Local craft
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Simple design
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Objects that last, not landfill fillers
From My Shed to Your Backyard
When I started cutting birds in my shed, I wasn’t thinking about international shipping or product lines.
I was thinking:
“Wouldn’t it be cool if a bird just appeared on a fence post, and someone smiled when they saw it?”
That’s still the core of Metalbird.
Why It Matters
In a world of fast fashion and throwaway stuff, we’re proud to make slow art.
Birds that:
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Are cut close to home
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Are made to weather with you
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Hold stories, not just steel
Want to See It for Yourself?
If you’ve never held a Metalbird, maybe it’s time.
Pick a bird. Choose a spot. Join the global flock.
Find your bird here.
Suggested Image:
A side-by-side visual of the journey:
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The original sketch on paper
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A workshop shot of a bird being laser cut
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The bird being boxed up
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The final silhouette patinaed beautifully in someone’s backyard
Real moments. Real hands. Real process.