Bird masterpiece

42 wild turkey
(total on this date in 2006: 40)

On the drive to work I get a windshield view of a small flock of turkeys. John James Audubon's painting of the male turkey is a classic and commands one of the highest prices of any of his Birds of America: $4,500. (See a better version than the one I faked at right.)

The white pelican and roseate spoonbill also currently sell at $4,500. The top-dollar Audubon bird is the great blue heron, now going for $10,000. Really, any of these will work for Christmas.