The Federal Duck Stamp Contest -- America's longest-running reality show.
The http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/federal/stamps/fedimages.htm.
Developing the winners of tomorrow.
You?ve heard of the Federal Duck Stamp, but what about the Junior Duck Stamp? Kids in Kindergarten through twelfth grade have an art contest all their own?and on the way to creating their painting of a duck or goose, they learn about wetlands, wildlife and conservation. Learn more about this extraordinary program that sees some 30,000 entrants each year and interview past Junior Duck Stamp winners.
Federal Duck Stamp History -- Journalist changes the course of wildlife conservation.
Just who was "Ding? Darling? A Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, Jay Norwood "Ding? Darling was also the father of the Federal Duck Stamp and the director of the Bureau of Biological Survey (the forerunner to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Explore his art, his passion for conservation and his leadership in 'saving ducks.? Start with the "Ding? Darling Foundation, http://www.dingdarling.org/index.html, to see some of "Ding? Darling's editorial cartoons and find out more about him. Talk with Kip Koss, "Ding? Darling's grandson and author of a compilation of his conservation-related cartoons, about his grandfather's lasting legacy.
One stamp -- More than 5 million acres -- More than $700 million.
Since 1934, sales of Federal Duck Stamps have raised more than $700 million to acquire habitat for national wildlife refuges in all 50 states. Find out which refuges near you have been purchased in part with Duck Stamp dollars at http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/Conservation/conservation.html. Then go visit, meet the refuge manager and explore the refuge to see the spectacles of wildlife that Duck Stamp dollars have helped protect.
Be green: Buy a Duck Stamp.
Hybrid cars, carbon-neutral travel, compact fluorescent light bulbs... there are hundreds of ways to ?be green? and be kind to the planet. One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways is to buy a Federal Duck Stamp. Ninety-eight percent of the $15 you spend on a Duck Stamp goes directly to saving the planet by purchasing wetland habitat for our national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge system. Protecting wetlands benefits birds and a host of other wildlife ? but people benefit too, since wetlands help to filter our drinking water. Who knew it was so easy being green?
A rite of passage, a family tradition.
For many families, waterfowl hunting has been a tradition for generations. During the Dust Bowl era, wetlands and waterfowl populations were declining, and waterfowl hunters supported the creation of a revenue stamp to essentially ?tax themselves? to raise funds for habitat conservation. Since then, every waterfowl hunter age 16 or older has been required to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp each year. Interview waterfowl hunters in your area, such as members of a local Ducks Unlimited or Delta Waterfowl chapter, and ask them about when they bought their first Duck Stamp and what it means to invest in the conservation of our nation's natural resources.
It's not just for ducks.
It's known as the Federal Duck Stamp, but millions of birds, mammals, fish, insects and plants can thank the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp for the habitat they dwell on. Duck Stamp dollars are used to acquire wetland habitat that is home to a variety of wildlife. That's why more and more birdwatchers, hikers and others who simply enjoy nature are buying duck stamps. Talk to your local Audubon Society or birdwatching group to find out why they are enthusiastically encouraging their members to buy Duck Stamps.
Buy a Duck Stamp so your kids can connect with nature.
Children today suffer from what one author and researcher has dubbed ?nature-deficit disorder?? a disconnect from the natural world that can be linked to the rise in obesity, attention disorders and even depression. Research shows that direct exposure to nature can affect the physical and emotional health of both children and adults. In order to make that connection with nature, people need natural places to go. Ninety-eight percent of the proceeds from the $15 Federal Duck Stamp go directly to purchasing habitat for our national wildlife refuge system?creating places where wildlife thrive and where people can forge that important bond with their natural world.
Travel
For all travel stories, contact: Nancy Hamilton, ( J.N. "Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge comprises more than half of the 10,730-acre Sanibel Island, making its residents and visitors extraordinarily aware of wildlife and its habitat. Wildlife tours, birding walks and narrated hikes are big business on Sanibel and sister Captiva Island.
Galleries favor wildlife watercolors and photography. Local hoteliers and retailers are now working with the refuge to promote the judging for the 75th Federal Duck Stamp.
One lone saltwater crocodile calls J.N. "Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge home, and adamantly so. Several years ago, she was relocated to the Everglades, where more of her kind live. A couple of years later, she returned to live among the refuge's more predominant alligator population. Canoe & Kayak has named the waterways in and around J.N. "Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge among the nation's 10 top places to paddle. Tours and rentals are available through the refuge's concession, Tarpon Bay Explorers, which also conducts nature tours by electric pontoon boat. The refuge's waterways are part of the 100- mile Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail. Birder's World Magazine voted J.N. "Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge as the number three birding spot in the nation. Birders have logged nearly 300 species at the refuge, most famously its roseate spoonbills and mangrove cuckoo.A popular family destination, Sanibel boasts year-round beaches and extensive opportunity for children to learn about the environment as they play outdoors. The "Ding? Darling Education Center at J.N. "Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge offers programs and exhibits designed especially for youngsters.Seashell collectors count Sanibel among the world's top destinations. The island's Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and annual Sanibel Shell Fair pay homage to its reputation as a seashell Mecca.Besides shells, Sanibel Island's beaches are known for its nesting loggerhead turtles, which are listed as a threatened species by the federal government. Hatchlings emerge late summer through early fall.J.N. "Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge is part of a ?conservation alley? that runs through the center of Sanibel Island. Other nature attractions along the way include Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation's Nature Center and trails, and the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). J.N. "Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge is user friendly. Visitors can drive, bike, hike or paddle their way through the refuge. Volunteer "Rovers? along its Wildlife Drive answer questions and identify species. An observation tower overlooks waters where birds flock to feed."Ding? Darling Wildlife Society, the friends group for J.N. "Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge, built its state-ofthe-art Education Centerin 1999, complete with habitat vignettes and interactive exhibits. (http://www.dingdarlingsociety.org)Each fall, "Ding? Darling Days celebrates the birthday of J.N. "Ding? Darling National Wildlife Refuge's namesake. In its 18th year, it will run from October 8-14, 2007, in conjunction with the 2007 Federal Duck Stamp Contest. It culminates Sunday, October 14, with a free Family Fun Day at the refuge. (http://www.dingdarlingdays.com).
