The beautiful branch for this unsplit, solid bore flute came from a Tuckeroo tree, Cupaniopsis anacardioides.  Native to Australia, its fruit was valued as a wild edible by the Aboriginal culture, who gave it its wonderfully Australian sounding name.  It has also become a popular landscaping tree in the San Diego, California region where I live, where it is commonly known by the name of Carrotwood, due to its carrot-colored under layer of bark.  Though the bark has been removed from this branch, some of that orange color is still visible in the crevices of the wood.  A wood that is a joy to work with -- its moderate hardness being very tool friendly.  Measuring 18 1/4" in length  it has been clearly and expressively tuned to a 6 holed Am pentatonic scale, playing 3 upper octave notes.  It also plays a very nice controllable warble when overblowing the fundamental note, as heard in the sound sample.   All knots and some wood crevices have been inlaid with crushed turquoise.  To help prevent wet-out the bird has been fitted with a cedar shoe, for its absorption qualities, and a drain hole, covered by the lacing, has been designed into the air chamber.  Deer leather lacing with turquoise and gold-plated brass beads secures the bird to the nest.  The branch for this flute was gratefully gathered from the trimmed branches in a neighbor's yard, rescued from the wood chipper.



Available through Ebay!