Before joining Ducks Unlimited (DU), Kirk spent the last 8 years working as a wetland consultant for governmental and private projects in MD, VA, WV, and DE. He specializes in wetland habitat creation and enhancement, as well as dealing with invasive species in wetlands and floodplains. Kirk is a registered Professional Wetland Scientist, and received a bachelor degree in Wildlife Management and one in Geography from Virginia Tech; and later received a Master’s degree in Geography from Appalachian State University.

Kirk grew up in the salt marshes of the lower Chesapeake Bay, and continues to hunt and fish those marshes every year. He currently lives in Baltimore with his wife Amy and their black lab Roan.

In his role with DU, he oversees and delivers all wetland restoration projects on public and private lands, works directly with local, state and federal personnel, private landowners, and multiple funding agencies. Mantay was hired to build on DU’s existing habitat restoration and land protection programs in Delaware and New Jersey in order to deliver more efficient and effective projects for migrating and wintering waterfowl.

Kirk is based in DU’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office in Annapolis, MD.He can be reached at (410) 224-6620 or kmantay@ducks.org.