"Close Duck Calls" was written for all children, especially those of the Upper Chesapeake Bay area. For many of us, we learned about the Flats in one of two ways. Some of us were self-taught because of a related interest, such as decoy collecting. Others learned the history from gunning stories passed down from generation to generation told by the ol'timers who still remember what hunting was like on the Flats in the 1930's. It is the author's hope that this historical, fictional account will enable children to appreciate and respect what we have (left) now and instill in them a stronger desire to preserve the Upper Bay and its surrounding waterways.