If you're ever driving down East Fort Lowell Road west of Alvernon Way, keep an eye out for a 9-foot-tall buzzard standing on the side of the road.
As scary as that might sound, there's no need to be alarmed.
The buzzard is a metal, copper-colored sculpture that greets customers of The Painted Gecko, 3775 E. Fort Lowell Road.
The Painted Gecko sells metal art and sculptures, along with customized security gates and fences.
For the holiday season, the buzzard has been joined by smaller buzzards wearing reindeer antlers and pulling a sleigh with metal javelinas in red Santa hats. The store has set up the Christmas scene for eight years, owner Bill Trimmer said.
The bigger buzzard stays in front of the store all year, Trimmer said. "People take pictures of it," he said. "We don't want to sell that one."
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Trimmer, who has worked with metals for about 45 years, sells a lot of the smaller buzzards, although he has made them as tall as 8 feet, he said.
He usually can build 10 of the smaller birds within a couple of days, he said.
Trimmer also makes metal owls and javelinas with movable heads.
The walls of the store are covered with metal art depicting Southwestern culture, and even John Wayne.
Part of the money from the John Wayne-themed art goes to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, he said.
As for the tall buzzard, Trimmer described it as an "icon" for the store. "He's our mascot."
Got an oddity?
Is there something you've noticed while driving through Tucson that has piqued your curiosity to the point that you wish you could find out more about it? Drop us a line, and we'll look into it. Call the Star newsroom at 573-4232 or e-mail oddity@azstarnet.com
Contact reporter Jamar Younger at jyounger@azstarnet.com or call 573-4115.
