I too like the post work, but the little jay is a bit bedraggled. I'm wondering if it's a youngster as the Jays we have around here are almost monstrous.
Maybe he's watching the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays tonight? lol...
We don’t make art to show someone what something looks like. All this requires is eyes (or a lens). Art is supposed to have meaning, emotion, power, or magic. Alan & Mario "FourThirds"
Like what you did when you added the texture in post. Really interesting effect and works well with this subject. Bet that would be great under a portrait of a person.