Common Eider

Want a great way to help protect habitat for migratory birds? Consider purchasing federal or state duck stamps. Proceeds from the sales of the stamp go to purchase critical habitat for all sorts of birds, and key funding for habitat restoration in Connecticut.

Why are Federal Duck Stamps Important?
The 550 refuges within the U.S. National Wildlife Refuge System are managed as havens for birds and other wildlife. Since 1934, revenue from the sale of Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps - commonly called "Duck Stamps" - has helped to purchase these critical habitats. Americans who enjoy wildlife and natural landscapes can thank those who have purchased stamps over the decades, for they have contributed over $750 million and protected over 5.3 million acres of habitat for wildlife and for future generations of Americans.

Now is the time to buy Duck Stamps! The impacts of climate change and the Gulf Oil Spill require flexibility and planning, and contributions from this fund help U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquire and protect sensitive wetlands and grasslands.

Traditionally, waterfowl hunters and other recreational users of the refuge system have purchased stamps. But funds derived from Stamp sales go far beyond serving the hunting community. For those who visit refuges, a stamp is a "free pass" for an entire year. This "pass" works for a vehicle full of people at all refuges that charge for admission.

Where does the money go?
This is an extremely cost effective program - 98 cents out of every dollar goes directly to acquire land for the Refuge System. Remember one third of America's threatened species make their home in wetlands.

Over 240 refuges have acquired diverse and wildlife-rich habitat with Duck Stamp money. The size of these purchases varies from, for example, 3.1 acres at Canfield Lake NWR in North Dakota to 344,341 acres for Okefenokee NWR in Georgia. Canfield Lake is part of the Long Lake NWR Complex, which is listed as a top 10 birding site by "Wildbird Magazine" and is designated as a Globally Important Bird Area and Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site. Okefenokee, on the other hand, is the largest NWR in the eastern United States and is a Wetland of International Importance in addition to being considered for World Heritage Site Status. You can help conserve globally significant lands by purchasing a $15.00 Duck Stamp - what value for your money!

On June 16th Secretary Salazar's announced the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved the purchase of wetland habitat that will be added to six units of the National Wildlife Refuge System to secure breeding, resting and feeding habitat. These acquisitions, worth $35.7 million, are funded with proceeds from sales of the Duck Stamp. These acquisitions include:

• Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, in Arkansas;
• Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, in California;
• Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, in New Jersey;
• Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, in New Hampshire;
• Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge, in Tennessee;
• San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, in Texas

View a comprehensive list of refuges that have used Duck Stamp funds to acquire land

Not Just for Refuge
The funds not only go to National Wildlife Refuges. Since 1958, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used Stamp funds to successfully conserve nearly 3 million acres of associated wetlands and grasslands in the Prairie Pothole Region of the upper Midwestern United States through the Small Wetlands Program. These efforts have resulted in tremendous benefits to migratory birds, wildlife, water quality, aquifer replenishment, and the environment in general. There has been a major grassland emphasis since the late 1980s to include the acquisition of upland easements to improve the quality of these smaller acquisitions. Beginning in the early 1990s, the Service began to purchase permanent grassland easements to combine with existing or new wetland easements. The upland easement program was initiated because of scientific studies demonstrating the critical importance of grassland habitat to nesting success among birds.

And Not Just For Ducks
not just for ducks . . . Scores of other species including shorebirds, long-legged waders, and wetland and grassland songbirds, are dependent on habitat derived from Stamp purchases.

How to Purchase a Stamp
The Stamp costs only $15 and it can be purchased at nearly all Post Offices or Amplex Corporation (the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service distributor)
Phone: 1-800-852-4897
Online: www.duckstamp.com

Additional Duck Stamp Information

Thank you to Barbara Volkle from the Friends of Assabet River NWR for providing this information on the Duck Stamp program.