The 1985 and 1986 Ward Foundation World Championship Carving Competition bird sculptures are documented in this large and profusely illustrated volume. The Best in World title is bestowed each year to bird carvings in the Decorative Lifesize, Floating Pairs, and Miniatures categories. This book beautifully presents the winners and competition entries through color photography and a supporting text that identifies and personalizes the artist—carvers. While wildfowl art has grown to be an enormously popular field in the last ten years, the competition for Best in World has become keen and supports professional, amateur and novice categories. The results of a year—long effort to compete for this title are truly staggering. You will see inspired and original art, and the underlying reverence for nature's art that these people share.