U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service -- Press Releases

America’s Oldest and Most Prestigious Wildlife Art Competition is Coming to Florida
- 2007 Federal Duck Stamp Contest -

Contacts:
Joshua Winchell, (202) 219-7499
Tom MacKenzie, (404) 679-7291
Kevin Godsea, (239) 472-1100 x 237
Rob Jess, (239) 472-1100 x 223

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Federal Duck Stamp Contest is coming to BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, Florida. Hundreds of beautiful waterfowl drawings and paintings entered into the contest from across the country will be on exhibit beginning September 25.

The judging and selection of the art that will grace the 75th Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the ‘Duck Stamp,’ will be conducted October 12 -13. The Duck Stamp represents one of America’s most successful conservation programs. Since 1934, stamps purchased by waterfowl hunters, stamp collectors, and increasingly by the general public, have raised more than $700 million conserving more than 5.2 million acres of wildlife habitat. Recent sales have averaged more than 1.6 million stamps annually at $15 each.

Special exhibits and activities during the contest sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Duck Stamp Program, and “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society. These events are free and open to the public. For a complete schedule of events and more information about the history of the Federal Duck Stamp and other stories related to this conservation program, please visit http://www.fws.gov/duckstamp75.

The contest is being held in conjunction withNational Wildlife Refuge Week and the annual “Ding” Darling Days festival October 8-14 at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, Florida. Weeklong activities include: Free birding tours, Refuge tram tours, live wildlife shows, kayaking, an Ivory-billed Woodpecker presentation by researchers Bobby Harrison and Dr. Jerry Jackson, and Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 14.

For more information, call 239-472-1100, or visit: http://DINGDARLINGDAYS.COM. Lodging information available at: http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com

For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, visit our home page at http://www.fws.gov/southeast or http://www.fws.gov/.

NOTE: You can view our releases or subscribe to receive them -- via e-mail -- at the Service's Southeast Regional home page at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/news. Our national home page is at: http://news.fws.gov/newsreleases/. Atlanta, GA 30345, Phone: 404/679-7289 Fax: 404/679-7286

2007 News Releases