In 1979 he started creating a collection of bird carvings in hopes of someday establishing a location where people could come to see them and learn about birds.

In addition to creating all the bird carvings and their display cases, Spear also helped design and build the museum itself.

At the time of the opening, the museum housed only 231 bird carvings.

It was created to preserve and exhibit a collection of lifelike bird carvings for the purpose of educating people about the role of birds in the ecosystem.

When BOVM opened to the public in 1987, there were 231 completed nesting bird carvings in a gallery on one floor.

There seemed to be a lot of stores that sold bird carvings.

A collector of stamps and coins since childhood, he redirected his focus in 1963 to buying decorative bird carvings and, later, to acquiring vintage American decoys.

Zahn displayed many of his bird carvings on the property and named it Bird's Park.

But the woods and remaining meadows are important, said Robert Braunfield, who does bird carvings.

There will be musical instruments, bird carvings, quilts, blown glass, basketry, clothing, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture and items made of wood and leather.