ASTORIA, Ore. — As the fall season gets underway, migratory flocks of ducks and geese will soon fill the Oregon skies.
This week, we travel to where the ducks and geese are always at hand — because they are made by hand! We enjoy a behind-the-scenes preview of this weekend’s Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show that will be held in Astoria.
If a region’s wealth can be measured by its wildness, Oregon is one of the richest places around. There’s wildlife at every turn: a solitary eagle perched on watch or V-shaped waterfowl flocks winging from this place to that.
Longtime Astoria resident Rick Pass has enjoyed the waterfowl world ever since he was a boy, even capturing local ducks with his camera.
“Oh, I just enjoy going outdoors for waterfowl season here on the local islands along the Columbia River,” said Pass. “Just driving along the roads and identifying the birds and see how beautiful they are, from cinnamon teal, green wing teal to mallards and pintail. It is amazing to me how far those birds actually fly. I really can’t tell you the thousands of miles they fly, and isn’t it quite the journey?”
The retired educator has been on a new journey of his own for the past 20 years. He creates, from a block of wood called tupelo, nature's creatures: ducks, geese and other waterfowl that recall his own youthful outdoor adventures that begin close to seven decades ago.
“I started young, and it was something about being with my dad, being out on the water together. I don’t recall killing a lot of ducks, but it was the experience of the outdoors — rain or shine, warm or cold — with my dad that made treasured memories I’ll have forever,” he recalled.
These days he first tries to imagine the wildlife in a wooden block of tupelo, a prized softwood that decoy carvers prefer, but where one mistake can really cost you.
“That’s my middle name: mistakes,” said Pass with a chuckle. “Mistakes never end! In fact, every time I make a mistake, I learn from it — so hopefully the next bird is a better bird than this one!”
Pass' wood decoys are among the best in the region, and he’s eager to show off his work at one of the largest competitions in the west, which will be held this weekend in Astoria at the 35th Annual Carving Competition and Art Festival.
And Pass is not alone in his workshop. His good friend, Mac Brown, was bit by the carving bug a decade ago and the two will share the garage turned workspace turned carving shop three days a week.
“There’s nothing I would rather do,” noted the retired lawyer turned judge turned decoy carver.
The two compete at decoy art shows across the country.
“I like to carve, and Rick is the same way. My retirement hobby, so to speak, is doing these birds.”
Brown’s carvings are whimsical efforts called “chunkys,” carvings that just make you feel good.
“Chunkys are caricatures … of a bird,” added Brown with a broad smile. “For example, this is not a subtle robin! You can see he has certain characteristics in common with a robin — he has a red breast and a white ring around the eye and bill is yellow — but they are all a bit exaggerated.”
“And kids like them!" Brown continued. "They have so much fun with them, and it can be a good way to get youngsters involved with carving and painting birds.”
Pass' grandkids, Bennet, Blair and Bryn, are just getting started with paintbrushes in hand and each has an eagerness born of youthful excitement in the doing of the thing.
“That’s the beauty of the decoy woodworking craft,” insists their granddad, Pass.
Anyone can learn at any age and discover the wonder of wildlife from a block of wood.
“That’s the key right there: it’s the best I can do," added Pass. “It may not be the best at the show, but that’s a winner for me.”
Be sure to watch the weekly half-hour program of Grant’s Getaways. The show airs each Saturday and Sunday on KGW.
You can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon travels and adventures in the Grant’s Getaways book series, including:
- "Grants Getaways I," Photography by Steve Terrill
- "Grant's Getaways II," Photography by Steve Terrill
- “Grant’s Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
- “Grant’s Getaways: Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
- “Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures with the Kids,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
The book collection offers hundreds of outdoor activities across Oregon and promises to engage a kid of any age.
You can reach me: Gmcomie@kgw.com