Each year the Mississippi Flyway Technical Section selects and honors a Waterfowl Officer of the Year for his or her outstanding work protecting and enhancing our waterfowl and wetland resource. Missouri Ducks Unlimited again followed suit with this award and name this individual as the: MISSOURI DUCKS UNLIMITED WATERFOWL OFFICER OF THE YEAR.
This year’s selection is Mike Christensen. Agent Christensen is stationed in Pike County, Missouri, where his duty assignment is one with much activity related to waterfowl enforcement. Ted Shanks Conservation Area along with a large stretch of Mississippi River corridor, containing many duck clubs, are all located in Pike County.
Mike is a well rounded conservation agent who works diligently to protect the migratory bird resources in his area. Along with an active enforcement program, Mike conducts waterfowl education programs and media presentations on waterfowl related topics throughout the year.
· Mike routinely conducts school programs where he includes waterfowl management and duck identification.
· For several years Mike has been one of the key classroom instructors for waterfowl enforcement in MDC’s training academy for new conservation agents as well as assisting with waterfowl scenario training.
· Mike takes youths waterfowl hunting at Ted Shanks CA during the youth season and actively participates in Duck Days as well at Ted Shanks CA. Duck Days is a program developed for grade school students of the Hannibal area which teaches students, faculty and parents about waterfowl migration, wetland management, waterfowl identification and much more. This past year the two day event was attended by 325 third graders from the Hannibal area.
· Mike works waterfowl enforcement on Ted Shanks CA, the Mississippi River and the many duck clubs across eastern Pike County. He patrols these areas by foot, boat and bicycle. This past December the Pike County Sheriff’s Department received a complaint concerning stolen duck and goose decoys from blinds on the Mississippi River in both Missouri and Illinois. The Sheriff’s Department asked Mike. With his knowledge of the River and his many contacts with waterfowl hunters he was able to assist the Pike Sheriff’s Department with the recovery of most of the decoys. Three subjects were arrested and charges filed in both states. All this took place the day after the decoys were stolen.
Mike goes above and beyond the call of duty by using his skills to develop tools which assist in waterfowl enforcement efforts and for these reasons was nominated to the Flyway Waterfowl Officer of the Year Program.
Congratulations to Missouri Ducks Unlimited’s Waterfowl officer of the Year, Mike Christensen.