4 February 2015

The Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp has presented a suggestion to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to include an image of a “secondary” non-waterfowl migratory bird on the Federal Duck Stamp. This idea is intended to enhance the stamp in recognition of the upcoming centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty.

The current rules for the stamp’s artwork clearly stipulate that the eligible waterfowl species – with five species considered each year – be depicted alive and as the “dominant feature in the design.” There should be no change whatsoever in that essential rule.

But the centennial period for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) presents the possibility of some added creativity and appeal, especially insofar as the MBTA covers all migratory birds.

The Migratory Bird Treaty was signed by President Wilson in August, 1916. The act itself was then passed by Congress in 1918. And it was sustained by a major decision from the Supreme Court in 1920. So the celebration period can actually extend for multiple years.

Our suggestion for a “secondary” migratory bird on the Duck Stamp, corresponds with the Service’s recognition of the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty. The effort could start with the art contest in 2016 and might be appropriate through the contest of 2019 (to cover a stamp that would overlap with the centennial of the crucial Supreme Court decision of 1920.)

Presented correctly, this could be a new and creative challenge for the regular and reoccurring wildlife artists in the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest. There is also the serious potential of attracting a new field of artists to the art competition.

And this idea should also be an important way to appeal to a broader audience. It’s a reminder that the proceeds for the stamp do not simply benefit ducks. Many other wildlife species in the National Wildlife Refuge System benefit from stamp-dollar investments. In any case, a slight adjustment in the stamp art presents a new opportunity to stress the vital message – that stamp proceeds go to essential Refuge System habitats and benefit multiple species.

Moreover, now with the increase in the price of the stamp to $25, it will be crucial to devise new ways to make the stamp more appealing, especially for those who are not required to buy one.

These ideas were originally presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the summer of 2014.

A full explanation of the proposed rule-changes is presented in the 4 February 2015 issue of Wingtips. In summary, our few suggested changes to the existing rules below are in red and in red strikeout.

From Page 2:

What can I send to the contest?

A Federal Duck Stamp Contest art entry consists of a two dimensional design. The regulations for the contest do not specify a medium.

Judges are instructed to look for scenes depicting live birds in their natural habitat. Only five species of waterfowl are allowed each year for consideration. The eligible waterfowl species must be the dominant feature in the design; this means it must be noticeably larger than any other elements you may wish to include such as the required non-waterfowl migratory bird species (to recognize the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty, and the related Migratory Bird Treaty Act – MBTA) or any optional decoys, dogs, or lighthouses.

Judges will also be looking at images that will reproduce well as a stamp.

Each entry must be accompanied by the Display, Participation & Reproduction Rights Agreement (see page 7) and an entry fee of $125. The fee must be a certified check, cashier’s check, or money order made payable to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. No personal checks or cash will be accepted. If you send a personal check or cash, your painting will be disqualified.

How do I prepare my entry?

Each artist should have a working knowledge in three four major areas of special interest to Federal Duck Stamp Contest judges:

• Basic Waterfowl Bird Biology – for example, if you choose to depict a spring scene, is the bird’s dominant waterfowl’s plumage correct for that season?
• Choosing and depicting an appropriate accompanying bird species – is the required non-waterfowl migratory bird species, included in the image as a secondary species to recognize the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty and related Act (MBTA), appropriate for depicted habitat and season. Does it adequately reflect the conservation uses for which Federal Duck Stamp dollars are spent?
• Artistic Composition – is the image artistically interesting, does it “pop” when you look at it?
• Suitability for printing at a reduced size – the image provides the design for a 1 ¾” L x 1 ½” W stamp. Considering the amount of detail you wish to include, do you think it will show well in this reduced size?

Entries must be uniform in size. Each entry must be 9”x 12” and matted over with bright white matting. The matting must be 1” wide. (See the diagram on page 5.) We recommend you use a 1/8” masonite board or foamcore with 1/8” matting to equal the total width of ¼” thick. Any entry exceeding ¼” thick will be disqualified.

From pages 3-4 among Contest Regulations:

91.14 restrictions on subject matter of entry.

A live portrayal of any bird(s) one waterfowl species of the five or fewer identified eligible species must be the DOMINANT feature of the design. The design may depict more than one of the eligible species. Designs may include, but are not limited to, hunting dogs, hunting scenes, use of waterfowl decoys, National Wildlife Refuges as the background of habitat scenes, and other designs that depict the sporting, conservation, stamp collecting and other uses of the stamp. The design must also include another migratory bird species besides the eligible waterfowl that is the dominant feature in the work. The choice of this non-waterfowl migratory bird is up to the artist, but it expected to represent a species covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty and related Act (MBTA) and benefitting from the investment of Federal Duck Stamp dollars. (This does not preclude the addition of other elements, such as hunting dogs, hunting scenes, decoys, blinds, lighthouses and/or other structures as background.) The overall mandate will be to select the best design that will make an interesting, useful and attractive duck stamp that will be accepted and prized by hunters, stamp collectors, wildlife-watchers, conservationists, and others. The design must be the contestants original “hand drawn” creation. The entry design may not be copied or duplicated from previously published art, including photo graphs, or from images in any format published on the Internet. Photographs, computer-generated art, art produced from a computer printer or other computer/mechanical output device (air brush method excepted) are not eligible to be entered into the contest and will be disqualified. An entry submitted in a prior contest that was not selected for the Federal or a state stamp design may be submitted in the current contest if it meets the above criteria.

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NOTE:   When the artist submits his/her piece of artwork for the stamp showing the dominant waterfowl, the form should also include a space where the identity of the “secondary bird species” is indicated.