Carved wooden waterfowl and shorebirds are recognized today as one of the few truly American art forms.  Like jazz, which began within the United States, carved wooden birds represent a link to the historic past.  After market hunting was banned in 1917, the manufacturing of decoys dropped dramatically.  Having been rediscovered only within the past few decades as objects of aesthetic beauty as well as historic significance decoys now grace the art collections of discerning individuals across the country.