WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two waterfowl decoys will have a new home at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History thanks to a donation from U.S. Congressman and lifelong waterfowler Mike Thompson of Northern California.
The canvasback pair, donated at a reception on Capitol Hill in mid-March, were hand-carved and hand-painted by Thompson. Each is hallowed and carved out of redwood. They have redwood heads and glass eyes.
Thompson carved the decoys in the early 1990s and has hunted over them in the Klamath Basin and on the North Coast of California.
“On behalf of the National Museum of American History, I am pleased to accept these two waterfowl decoys hand-carved and painted by the Congressman and to add them to our national collections,” said John Gray, director of the museum.
The pair of donated canvasbacks are part of a larger hunting rig hand-carved and painted by Thompson that consists of 12 canvasbacks, 10 mallards, six teal, five prig, two Canada geese, a sprig tip up and a great blue heron confidence decoy.
“Waterfowl hunting in the marsh is a wonderful experience, but it’s even better when you’re hunting over your own hand-carved and painted decoys,” said Thompson, the only Member of Congress in history to serve two terms as chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.
The pair of canvasbacks are not the first decoys donated by Thompson. During his years of carving he has donated two pairs of canvasbacks, two pacific coast brant, and a drake mallard for charitable purposes.
Thompson started carving decoys at the urging of two long-time California decoy carvers, Bill Neal of Marin and Carl Brown of Napa.
“When I started collecting antique duck decoys, a lot of the old carving guys like Bill and Carl were still around. They urged me to start carving. I took a carving class in the early 90s, and as they say, ‘the rest is history.’”
When Thompson first started carving, he would bring his decoys to Neal’s house where they would fill up a tub to weight them.
Thompson was always critical of his work, pointing out even the slightest imperfections.
One time at Neal’s house when Thompson was criticizing a decoy he carved, he recalled Neal looking him straight in the eye and saying, “Mike, if any duck gets close enough to notice that and you miss it, it’s not the decoy’s fault.”
Thompson was recently inducted into the California Waterfowl Hall of Fame, where he was recognized for his passion for the traditions of waterfowling, one sign of which is that he is renowned as one of the foremost authorities on vintage California waterfowl decoys.
Thompson still spends time carving and painting decoys, although he admits he spends less time then he used to given his duties as a member of Congress and his weekly traveling to Washington, D.C.
Despite his elected duties, Thompson is as passionate about waterfowl today as he was when he was a kid.
“Before he was old enough to drive,” Thompson recalls, “I would ride my bike through town to the river to go duck hunting and my mom would pick me up at a local grocery store three or four miles downriver.”
As an elected official Thompson has led efforts to preserve waterfowl and conserve wetlands.
In the early 1990s, homeless people started camping along the South Spit of Humboldt Bay, located in Humboldt County, California. The Spit is one of the most important hunting areas in the state, annually hosts large numbers of Black Brant and other waterbirds.
The situation on the Spit quickly worsened as garbage piled up, pit bulls hunted in packs, and abandoned cars, busses and trailers leaked fluids into wetlands.
At the time, the land was privately owned and despite the huge numbers of felons on-site, enforcement of trespassing was lax.
After visiting the Spit, Thompson forged new partnerships with local leaders. When agencies developed management plans that limited public use, Thompson rejected them. He wanted the Spit’s historical uses preserved, most notably waterfowl hunting and fishing.
Through Thompson’s work, the Spit was acquired by the California Department of Fish and Game which gave the land the Wildlife Area status it enjoys today. Thompson ensured that the homeless were offered services and a huge clean-up took place to remove the toxins. Today, wildlife thrives and public access is secure.
Thompson also helped forge a deal in California’s Del Norte County to save the Aleutian Goose. At the time the goose population was growing and they needed more grazing areas to forage. The geese competed with local ranchers, cattle and dairy operations. This created hardships for both the geese and the local farmers and ranchers.
Thompson struck a deal with California State Parks that allowed the land to be restored to short grass, the preferred forage for Aleutians. This was a true win for the geese and the landowners.
Continuing his work on preservation, Thompson secured more than $20 million to restore the Napa-Sonoma Salt Marsh. This 20 year restoration project represents a remarkable recovery of one of the San Francisco Bay’s great wetlands.
The area was once diked and drained for agricultural purposes. After it was drained, it was used for commercial salt production. Because of Thompson’s efforts, 10,000 acres of wetlands have been restored and hunting opportunities have been increased.
Additionally, as a co-author of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Thompson’s fingerprints are on conservation efforts spanning far beyond California. This law co-written by Thompson is responsible for the conservation of more than 23 million acres of wetlands.
“While I don’t have as much time to carve and hunt because of my job in Congress, it’s through that job that I can work to make sure my kids and grandkids, and the generations that come after them will have good hunting land. To me, that’s as satisfying as hunting over any hand carved decoy.”
Because of Thompson’s donation to the National Museum of American History, visitors to our nation’s capital will be able to see two beautiful pieces of art.
Because of Thompson’s work, generations will be able to enjoy millions of acres of beautiful wetlands.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
