Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway

Book excerpt: This book documents the outstanding antique waterfowl and bird decoys of one of the greatest of all flyways - the Mississippi. The majority of the examples used in this book have never been illustrated before. Included are decoys of a wide range of species of ducks, geese, swans and shorebirds as well as the more unusual egrets, gulls, crows, owls and one very rare flicker. Written by a prominent collector and student of Mississippi Flyway decoys, this book clearly documents the classic decoy of the flyway and presents a broad spectrum of examples of the individual makers in every important area. Chapters are included on Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi and Louisiana. The helpful carvers index gives the location and important dates for the 150 individual carvers. This book is a complete statement of the rich decoy heritage of the Mississippi Flyway. It is an indispensible reference book for everyone interested in collecting waterfowl and bird decoys of this original form of American folk art.