I finally completed this project and thought I would share.
One of the first things I had to determine was if I wanted to just display it, or did I want it to look as it would in nature. To that end, I decided to position it “in flight.” The photo above shows it drying in position after I used finish spray on it. My willow leaves are also drying on the upper foam block.
Here you can see the front view.
Here he is in all his glory. I love the fact that his has two completely different patterns on his wings.
This has been quite an undertaking, but well worth the time. Be sides, my daughter loves it. It will be hanging in her kitchen window soon.
This whole project was accomplished using my “Basketweave Stitch. I find it one of the most versatile stitches for these intricate creations.
Just sharing,
KT
Creative Knitting - Beyond Knit and Purl 
Just a thought- be careful of a window that gets a lot of sunlight- after all your incredible work you don’t want the colors to fade or the yarn to deteriorate. I learned this lesson the hard way.
Great tip. In both cases, the rings are hanging in windows that are not in direct sunlight.