There is a category at some decoy/bird carving competitions for "cocktail" or "champagne" miniature decoys. The reference to coctail/champagne because they have to be small enough to float in a wide cocktail glass (3.5"). It's kind of a novelty category. This year, I entered two of these tiny decoys at the Ward Foundation "World Champtionship" carving competition and came in 1st and 2nd in the division. These little things have to float. They are carved in a very light wood but even so, I had to hollow the Shoveler to get it to float correctly. Both are carved from a solid piece of tupelo gum and painted in oils.. The red-breasted merganser's crest was made from an old paint brush.
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| Red-breasted merganser (male) |
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| another view of the red breasted merganser |
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| Norther shoveler (male) |
