From
its beginning as an amendment to the Duck Stamp Act in
1958 and fueled by the sale of tens of thousands of Duck
Stamps annually, the Small
Wetlands Program is today one of this country’s
most cost-effective conservation efforts, protecting nearly
3 million acres of prairie wetlands and grasslands to support
migratory birds and resident wildlife. This includes the
Prairie Pothole region, a 100,000 square mile area covering
parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and
Montana.
Affectionately
known as the “duck factory,” this area supplies
the breeding grounds for 50 percent of our country’s
waterfowl. It also supports many grassland-dependent birds,
threatened and endangered species and species of state
concern. Without the funds raised each year from Federal
Duck Stamp sales to hunters, birders, conservationists,
stamp collectors and wildlife art lovers, this factory
would not be nearly as profitable or productive.
A
place of amazingly beautiful scenery, abundant bird populations,
and strong and cherished hunting traditions, it is no wonder
the Prairie Pothole Region is home to so many Federal Duck
Stamp artists. In fact, Minnesota has yielded more winning
Federal Duck Stamp artists than any other state in the
country.
For
the first time in its history, the Federal
Duck Stamp Art Contest will be held in the Midwest.
Run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the contest will take place on October
17 and 18 in Bloomington, Minnesota at the Bloomington
Center for the Arts, 1800 West Old Shakopee Road. During
the only federally sponsored art competition, a panel of
five judges will select the art to grace the 2009-2010
Federal Duck Stamp. The two-day contest is free and open
to the public.
Ninety-eight
cents of every dollar generated by the sales of Federal
Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland
specifically targets vital breeding habitat within the
National Wildlife Refuge System. When you buy a Duck Stamp,
you are doing your part to help ensure a bright future
for wildlife, waterfowl and other migratory birds. Service
Director Dale Hall. “Buying a Duck Stamp is easy
and yields a great return on your investment- helping to
protect irreplaceable migratory bird habitat.”
In
addition to producing most of our nation’s duck populations,
Prairie Pothole lands acquired with Duck Stamp dollars
are home to many other birds, including pelicans, herons,
rails, gulls and wrens, to name a few. Obviously, the Duck
Stamp Program, which was created by hunters in 1934 to
preserve wetlands, benefits more than just ducks.
Those
who enjoy the benefits of the National
Wildlife Refuge System include birders, conservationists,
outdoorsman, and clearly, wildlife that depend on wetlands.
Moreover, with a growing body of evidence showing the health
benefits to children of connecting with their natural world,
buying Federal Duck Stamps is not only good for ducks,
but for people too.
As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Small Wetlands Program and prepare
to choose a new Federal Duck Stamp design, it is time to “put
our stamp on conservation” by putting Federal Duck Stamps in
our pockets.
The
Bloomington Art Center is a nonprofit community art
center whose mission is to stimulate creativity by making
high quality arts programs accessible to people of all
ages, skills and abilities.
