The Beautiful Work of Marco Stagnaro (Mirko)

Marco Stagnaro, a.k.a. Mirko, is an italian hunter from Sestri Levante (Genova), who practices the Ars Venandi, 'La caccia con il chioccolo': hunting with bird calls. He even wrote a huge book (700p) on the topic ('U và cun à ciocciua - La caccia con il chioccolo'), and publishes many videos (check here).



I am not interested in hunting (I even have personal reasons to dislike it), but I like bird calls. Marco Stagnaro builds himself his 'chioccoli', and they are as beautiful as some are complex or creative.

Mirko began to build them in 1990, as a hobby, with passion. Among them stands the 'RM61', a multi-sound instrument, on the base of a brass nose flute. The whistle can imitate the little owl, the long-eared and the tawny owls, the black bird, the jay, the buzzard and even shrill meowings!

From Mirko's description (automatic translation from Italian):

« The idea is born from studying the use of nasal flute. Continuing always the search of being able to do more sounds (imitation) to attract animals without the use of the hands. (...) The tool that I present today to you (RM 61) is composed of: the flute where nasal breath performs very well the sound of the owl, the chioccolo connected to the nasal flute and the owl in the vicinity of the nozzle of the chioccolo. Everything is held tight to the mouth and the nose by a rubber band.
(...) 05/18/2015 »

Now, look at this sophisticated beauty…

All pictures by Marco Stagnaro, all rights reserved:







All Mirko's creations are unique and numbered, not for sale (Alas..!)