13 February 2016
The Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp is in favor of recommended changes that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has just made for the rules governing the famous Federal Duck Stamp Contest.
This proposal appeared in the Federal Register on Thursday, 11 February. These recommend that the portrayal of the waterfowl on the Duck Stamp (officially known as the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp) should be enhanced by the addition of an appropriate non-waterfowl migratory bird species, beginning with the 2016 contest to be held this fall.
In existence since 1934, the Duck Stamp has generated more than $800 million for the preservation of over 6.5 million acres of wetland and grassland habitat. Since 1958, almost all of the proceeds from the approximately 1.8 million stamps sold annually go to secure this vital habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Stamp, today costing $25, is required of waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older when they hunt waterfowl. Many other people buy the Stamp, including non-waterfowl hunters, anglers, bird watchers, wildlife photographers, stamp collectors, supportive refuge Friends groups, and environmental educators.
According to the Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp, the latest proposal is real opportunity to:
- draw positive attention to the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty this year;
- provide new artistic challenges to the participating bird artists in the Duck Stamp Art Contest (and potentially bring in new artists);
- generate additional enthusiasm among people to support migratory bird conservation (increase people's understanding that it's "not just for ducks"), which may motivate more Americans to buy the Stamp.
The USFWS program for the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation [Duck] Stamp combines great art and design with a proven record of solid conservation that goes back over 80 years, securing vital wetland and grassland habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System and providing important recreational opportunities for all Americans. It's art and conservation, both simple and beautiful.
With the recent increase in the price of the stamp – to $25 – it is important to devise innovative ways to make the Stamp more appealing, especially for those Americans who are not required to buy a Stamp. It is crucial to find out how to sell more Stamps for conservation. Modifying the art rules to include additional and appropriate bird species is an ideal way to raise that possibility.
Many organizations expressed support for this idea, in comments made last year.
According to the Friends, the only disappointing thing about the current USFWS proposal is that it is not specific enough as written. The group maintains that the USFWS should have provided more details in the proposal, so that the public, which includes many talented artists and supporters, could provide better feedback to the USFWS.
The Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp presented just such specific wording suggestions in the past – to the USFWS in 2014 and then distributed to the general public in early February 2015.
Presented correctly, these contest changes will benefit wildlife artists, waterfowl hunters, and other Americans who buy the Stamp; support the Refuge System; and, most importantly, conserve the birds and other wildlife depending on us to secure wetland and grassland habitat for their survival.
Details on the USFWS proposal (including a downloable PDF) and the comment period (through 14 March 2016) can be found in the Federal Register, Revision of Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp) Contest Regulations. (A shorter, sharable link is https://federalregister.gov/a/2016-02665.) To view other public comments and contribute your own, visit Regulations.gov, docket ID FWS-HQ-MB-2015-0161.
You may also send in hard copy comments. Comments will be taken until 14 March 2016.