This practical guide by master waterfowl carver William I. Tawes provides detailed instructions for creating seven bird-carving projects. It covers the selection and care of wood, tools and their use, planning and design, carving techniques, repairing cracks and blemishes, and the finishing of completed carvings. The projects include a decoy duck, belted kingfisher and great blue heron. Numerous photographs and 94 black-and-white illustrations demonstrate the techniques and stages of the work. William I. Tawes was an American specialist in woodcarving waterfowl. His work combines traditional woodcarving techniques with a keen interest in lifelike bird models. *Creative Bird Carving* has become a classic handbook within the American tradition of wildfowl carving. (AI-generated content description)