Top stories for Oct. 19, 2010
Subscribe!
Visit the archives
Tell a friend about the CIB
2010 Federal Duck Stamp winner selected
Federal Duck Stamp Contest winner, artist Jim Hautman (left), and USFWS Deputy Director Dan Ashe display the winning entry, a pair of white-fronted geese. Hautman's art will be used for the 2011-2012 Federal Duck Stamp. (Photo: USFWS) |
Minnesota wildlife artist James Hautman was once again named the winner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Federal Duck Stamp Contest held Oct. 15 and 16 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley, Calif., marking the first time the contest has been held on the West Coast.
DU worked closely with the USFWS on the steering committee for this year's contest and provided a live video stream of the two-day event on the DU website.
This year's victory marks the fourth time Hautman has won the contest. His previous wins were in 1989, 1994 and 1998. His acrylic painting of a pair of white-fronted geese will be made into the 2011-2012 stamp, which will go on sale in late June 2011.
The contest was open to the public and judging took place over two days, as a panel of experts in art, waterfowl identification and philately considered more than 230 entries. Only five species of waterfowl are allowed each year for consideration in the contest. Eligible species for artists to render in 2010 included the brant, northern shoveler, ruddy duck, Canada goose and greater white-fronted goose.
Jim Hautman's winning stamp design (Photo: USFWS) |
Every U.S. state has at least one national wildlife refuge that has benefited from duck stamp sales. Of every dollar generated from these sales, 98 cents goes to purchase or lease wetland habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Each year, stamp sales contribute nearly $25 million to conservation. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, which is comprised of four members of Congress and three members of the presidential cabinet, approves the acquisitions based on recommendations from the USFWS.
Dr. Fritz Reid, director of conservation planning at DU's Western Regional Office in Sacramento, Calif., attended the contest and said it embodied the conservation spirit the stamp is intended to champion. "USFWS and DU did a magnificent job organizing the contest's activities, and it was clear that everyone involved had one thing at the forefront of their thinking: the amazing benefits the federal duck stamp delivers to our National Wildlife Refuge system and conservation nationwide," Reid said.
DU biologist honored by NRCS for contributing to 100,000-acre WRP enrollment in California
Ed Burton (right), NRCS California state conservationist, presents DU Regional Biologist Chris Hildebrandt with an award for recruiting California landowners to the Wetlands Reserve Program. |
In early October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service honored a group of individuals—including DU Regional Biologist Chris Hildebrandt—who played an integral role in recruiting California farmers and ranchers to enroll more than 100,000 acres into the Wetlands Reserve Program, which helped make this WRP enrollment the highest in the program's history. WRP is a voluntary, non-regulatory, incentive-based program that allows private landowners and working farmers and ranchers to protect and restore wetlands on their property while also removing marginal croplands from production.
"We are commemorating the voluntary conservation work of over 240 private landowners and recognizing those on-the-ground folks from partner organizations who made this milestone happen," said Ed Burton, NRCS state conservationist for California. "With over 100,000 acres enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program, you have made California a national conservation leader."
Hildebrandt expressed his appreciation for the honor, but said DU and NRCS' work in California is far from over. "It is extremely fulfilling when DU's dedicated efforts to encourage private landowners to enroll their land in WRP and assist in the restoration activities pay off," Hildebrandt said. "I am very grateful to NRCS for this award and am thrilled to have played a part in such a wonderful milestone in California conservation. And while it is necessary that we take time to celebrate this major wetland restoration achievement, we must remember that this acreage represents only a small percentage of the wetlands that once existed in California. This milestone is not the finish line, but an important stage for NRCS to reflect on this important accomplishment and reinvigorate DU and other partners' efforts toward the next 100,000 acres of restored wetlands in California."
Louisiana wetlands enhancement project dedicated to L. J. "Dr. Duck" Mayeux
L.J. and Roseada Mayeux pose for photos with the dedication sign at Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge. |
At the southern end of the Mississippi Flyway, Ducks Unlimited dedicated a wetlands restoration project at Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge to past DU President Dr. L. J. Mayeux's service and commitment to waterfowl conservation. The project will provide wintering habitat for waterfowl and opportunities for waterfowl hunting and other wildlife-oriented recreation as well as environmental education.
"This site, within 2 miles of Dr. Mayeux's home, is particularly fitting to honor him, because he was instrumental in making the project a reality," said Bob Dew, Ducks Unlimited manager of conservation programs.
A project in Saskatchewan was dedicated last year to Mayeux, a lifelong conservationist from Louisiana. Dedication of the Grand Cote NWR project completes Ducks Unlimited's tribute to Mayeux's continental commitment to conservation.
"Waterfowl depend on quality habitat on their northern breeding grounds and their Louisiana wintering grounds, and both regions are experiencing dramatic habitat loss," said Mike Benge, DU volunteer chairman of the Mayeux tribute events. "Because L. J. has dedicated his life to ducks, which depend on both ends of the flyway, we believe it's fitting to have this 'round-trip' tribute."
"Dr. Mayeux, widely known throughout DU as 'Dr. Duck,' is a consummate example of the passion and commitment of the DU volunteer. He has held virtually every volunteer position in DU, starting as a Marksville, La., committee member in 1980," said David Schuessler, DU national director of grassroots fundraising.
The Grand Cote NWR project area consists of forested sloughs and bayous replanted in 1992. Enhancements will improve water-management capabilities on 1,200 acres of a green-tree reservoir.
"Adding water-management capability to these units will improve its value to waterfowl, which is a high priority for DU, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Louisiana and many of our other conservation partners," Dew said.
In addition to Dr. Mayeux's contributions, support for the work at Grand Cote NWR came from the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant and DU volunteers and supporters in Louisiana.