Now not only for hunters, the Duck Stamp has raised greater than $1 billion for conservation, helped birds from Buffleheads to Bobolinks, and created a wealth of excellent artwork within the procedure. Purchasing a Duck Stamp is a good conservation motion any birder can take.
July 30, 2024
At first revealed July 2014; up to date July 2024.
A few of the U.S.’s many impressive federal and state lands, it can pay to keep in mind the flora and fauna havens which are the Nationwide Flora and fauna Safe haven gadget, administered by way of the U.S. Fish and Flora and fauna Provider. The program of greater than 500 spaces is controlled essentially for the good thing about flora and fauna, and they’re nice puts to peer birds of a wide variety, together with waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds.
Some of the ideal tactics to improve Nationwide Flora and fauna Refuges is to shop for a Migratory Chook Searching and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck Stamp,” annually. It’s a win-win-win: it proudly publicizes your improve of public land, it funnels cash without delay to the shelter gadget (to the song of a few $40 million in line with yr), and it will get you loose access to the refuges all yr.
Purchasing a Migratory Chook Stamp is an easy and direct method for folks to give a contribution to grassland and wetland conservation. In 2013, the New York Occasions ran a work on the annual stamp artwork pageant; now right here’s our personal checklist of 8 causes to like the stamp:
1. Over $1 billion for conservation and counting. The primary stamp was once issued in 1934. It price $1 (about $18 in lately’s bucks) and bought 635,001 copies. By way of regulation, the budget raised move without delay to habitat acquisition within the decrease 48 states. By way of now, stamp gross sales have surpassed $1 billion and helped to offer protection to 6.5 million acres of wetland and grassland habitat.
2. A 73-year custom of gorgeous flora and fauna artwork. The Migratory Chook stamp is a gorgeous collectible and a super creative custom. Since 1949, the design of each and every yr’s duck stamp has been selected in an open artwork contest. The 2022 stamp, appearing a couple of Redheads, was once painted by way of James Hautman, a veteran of the competition who now has six wins to his title (see a gallery of all stamps again to 1934).
3. A discount at $25. 90-eight cents of each and every greenback spent on a stamp is going without delay to land conservation for the Nationwide Flora and fauna Safe haven Machine. This $25 acquire is in all probability the only most simple factor you’ll be able to do to improve a legacy of wetland and grassland conservation for birds.
4. It’s a lot more than geese. Waterfowl hunters have lengthy been the principle supporters for this system—the stamps are a demand for any individual 16 or older who desires to seek. However the budget receive advantages rankings of different chicken species, together with shorebirds, herons, raptors, and songbirds, to not point out reptiles, amphibians, fish, butterflies, local vegetation, and extra. (See a complete illustrated historical past of how the Duck Stamp helped save North American waterfowl, from Chook Academy.)
5. Save wetlands; save grasslands. Since 1958, the U.S. Fish and Flora and fauna Provider has used stamp revenues to offer protection to “waterfowl manufacturing spaces”—over 3 million acres—inside the vital Prairie Pothole Area. The similar program additionally protects declining prairie-nesting birds within the face of accelerating lack of grasslands. Consequently, refuges are probably the greatest puts to seek out grassland specialties equivalent to Bobolinks, Grasshopper Sparrows, Clay-colored Sparrows, Sedge Wrens, and others.
6. The advantages are stunning. Probably the most maximum various and wildlife-rich refuges around the Decrease 48 had been obtained with stamp budget. Chances are high that there’s a flora and fauna shelter close to you that has benefited.
7. It’s your loose move to refuges. A migratory chicken stamp is a loose move for a complete yr to all refuges that rate for admission—so your $25 may even prevent cash.
8. As birdwatchers, let’s get in on the name of the game. Even though it’s lengthy been a fixture in looking circles, the Migratory Chook Searching and Conservation Stamp is without doubt one of the best-kept secrets and techniques in all of chicken conservation. It’s time to shop for and display your stamp!
(Because of the Pals of the Migratory Chook/Duck Stamp for assist in making ready this submit.)