Jeff was born in Bremerton, Washington and raised in San Diego, California. He is a Waterfowl Biologist by trade but currently owns The Canvasback Decoy Gallery in Easton, Maryland. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Wildlife Biology from Humboldt State University, Arcata, California and a Master’s of Science degree in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Jeff received his early training in Waterfowl Biology at the world renowned Delta Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Station in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. For his graduate thesis, Jeff studied some important questions related to duckling survival of Ruddy Ducks in Minnedosa, Manitoba. He has studied other breeding and wintering waterfowl in remote regions of Alaska and throughout the prairie potholes of the U.S. and Canada. His research findings are published in prominent Ornithological journals. He has been employed by such organizations as California Waterfowl Association, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited and the USGS Alaska Science Center. He is a collector, student and historian of decoys from the Upper Chesapeake Bay/Susquehanna Flats. Jeff credits his good friends and waterfowling historians Henry Fleckenstein, Jr. and C. John Sullivan, Jr. for being his mentors. He is a member of the East Coast, Potomac and Delaware Decoy Collectors Associations as well as the Havre de Grace and Upper Bay Decoy Museums. Over the years, Jeff has successfully fused his enthusiasm for education with its business end, through the internet-based collector’s hub www.OldWoodenDuckDecoys.com. Jeff's current business model still emphasizes a strong educational component...which he believes is key to building the next generation of decoy collectors www.CanvasbackDecoyGallery.com. Jeff continues to enjoy his strong passion for waterfowl...both the feathered and wooden kind! He enjoys living in the small town of St. Michaels with his soon to be wife Jennifer Wagner and her two children Seth and Selene. Finally, Jeff is an avid duck and goose hunter and always by his side is Jessie, an 11 year old female Black Lab who is also the official greeter for The Canvasback Gallery!
