Being on the migrational flyway for ducks and geese, the upper
Chesapeake Bay has long been a center for waterfowl hunting. Where
there is hunting, there are, of course, decoys. The area around
Havre de Grace, Maryland has produced some of the most prolific
decoy makers in America. Usually born of the necessity of the hunt,
their decoys have become highly collectable. In Upper Chesapeake Bay
Decoys and Their Makers, David and Joan Hagan share their talent for
photography with the reader. They illustrate the art of the decoy
makers in this area with beautiful images of the birds they have
formed. Usually their decoys are accompanied by the portraits of the
artists and recollections and reflections on their art and
experiences. Over eighty decoy makers are represented in Upper
Chesapeake Bay Decoys and Their Makers. Many of them are still alive
and active in their work. The decoys illustrated range from early
decoys, faded and worn smooth with use, to recent decoys which go
directly from the artist to the collector without ever touching the
water. All of them show the skill of the artist and evoke the
appreciation that has made the decoy a central theme in American
folk art.