News Release

December 7, 2004

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Co-hosts Migratory Waterfowl Workshop with North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission will offer two Migratory Waterfowl workshops on January 14, 2005 and February 5, 2005 from 9:00 - 3:30 at the Pocosin Lakes NWR Field Station in Creswell. This class will focus on waterfowl such as ducks, geese and swans. After a short classroom presentation on identification techniques, we will visit areas to observe birds in the field. The day will consist of field work in a variety of conditions, and will be held regardless of weather conditions. Please bring cold weather and rain gear, as well as lunch. There is no charge for these workshops. For more information, or to register, please e-mail: mike.campbell@ncwildlife.org If you have no access to e-mail, please call: (252) 514-6663.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses almost 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

- FWS -