I give tribute to the wooden decoy designers. They were challenged in producing objects where form follows function. Each bird had to perform like the actual, while still maintaining all the demands that are required from a decoy. The maker had to continuously achieve overall balance between form, weight, durability and function. This was no easy pie. Harve Davern from Brighton in Prince Edward County, Ontario, designed decoys in a unique way. He focused his attention on the shape factor to achieve a lighter and efficient bird. Most carvers hollow their decoys while Davern reduced the use of material. He felt that by flattening and widening the bodies and thinning the necks his birds would be more effective in the field. He was absolutely correct. Davern came up with a completely different way of achieving function by manipulating the amount of material used. -Marc Courtemanche