A Little About Us…
Bergen Birdworks is based in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, 180 km from Port Elizabeth in Somerset East.
Operating under Jeff Bergen – an avid outdoorsman, wing-shooter, and hunt lifestyle photographer.
Originally from Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada, Bergen grew up bird hunting on the shores of Lake Erie, developing a great love for all aspects of the sport and different species. It has been a passion that's easily been translated to South Africa due to thriving bird populations and minimal (bird) hunting pressure.
With most people coming to SA primarily for big game hunting; wing-shooting and bird taxidermy has often been an after-thought for visiting hunters. But with such a beautiful and varied bird population, Bergen has taken great pride in elevating this craft to the international standards he is familiar with, producing beautiful, high-quality and natural looking mounts to be enjoyed for years to come.
We offer comprehensive services to both local & international clients. Services include basic mounts, custom mounting and multi-bird mounts to the client’s specification. By using the latest products & methods, Bergen Birdworks is establishing a name for quality & attention to detail, to create life-like trophies – all of which are collected and delivered to our clients with the necessary documentation.
Our objective is perfection & we hope to leave our clients with the best memories of their hunting experience in the reproduction & life likeness of their prized trophies.
A Message from Jeff:
Hi and welcome to my new page! Thank you for taking the time to have a look. My wife and I took a leap of faith in 2023 and moved to the small town of Somerset East. We had been living in Cape Town for the last 12 years where I was working as a commercial photographer. We decided that a quieter life away from the city was what we were seeking.
I grew up in a small town in Canada- Right near Long Point, Ontario. It’s a waterfowl hunters paradise and It’s where this story starts for me. I have been a photographer for over 15 years and on particularly longer trip home began hunting with my close friends. I caught the waterfowl bug badly and started taking my camera out with me. In turn it led me to working with some of the industries top hunting brands and getting to hunt some of the most abundant waterfowl spots in Canada. Now in South Africa full time, I’m drawn back to the thing that excites me most- Bird hunting. Somerset East boasts such a diverse amount of hunting- there is something for everyone.
I’m newer to the taxidermy industry but not new to bird hunting and under the wing (haha) of the amazing folks at African Wildlife Artistry I’ve been able to push my boundaries to be able to offer an excellent product. If you find yourself in the area or are just wanting to talk shop- Please feel free to give me a call or stop by the shop and see for yourself.
Take care & God Bless,
-J