Outdoor timber sculpture

We are currently restoring a timber (blackbutt) outdoor sculpture by
Brett Whiteley depicting two matchsticks: Three quarters of one of
the matchsticks has been burned to resemble a burned matchstick.

Birds have picked large holes (approximately 20 x 30 x 20 cm) in the
upper section of this match.

We are looking for a suitable gap-filler for these big holes, that
is compatible with the flexible structure of wood, responds to
changing environmental conditions, will be strong enough to resist
future attacks of birds and is economical.

Does anybody have experience with something like this?


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 20:49
                  Distributed: Friday, April 13, 2007
                       Message Id: cdl-20-49-027
                                  ***