Wood Duck Depicted by Winner of Junior Duck Stamp Contest

Wood Duck, by Lily Spang.

An acrylic painting of a Wood Duck by Lily Spang, age 16, of Toledo, Ohio is the winner of the 2009-2010 Federal Junior Duck Stamp competition. Her entry was chosen on April 22 by a panel of judges at contest held at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C.

"The Junior Duck Stamp Program is a unique effort that for 17 years has celebrated and taught conservation through the arts," said Rowan Gould, Acting Director for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. "One of the fathers of the modern conservation movement, Aldo Leopold, put great emphasis on the value of nature observation to conservation efforts. All Junior Duck Stamp artists carry on this tradition by translating their observations to canvas."

Second place was awarded to Abraham Hunter, 15, of Vienna, Illinois with his acrylic painting of a hen and drake common goldeneyes.

Rebekah Nastav, age 18, of Amoret, Missouri took third place for a rendition of two male common goldeneyes.

Entrants were required to depict a "live portrayal of a native North American duck, swan or goose," according to contest entry rules. Entries had been received from each of the 50 states, and the District of Columbia.

"The National Postal Museum is always honored to be associated with the Junior Duck Stamp Program, as this is a vital tool in conserving our nation’s natural resources," said Allen Kane, Director of the National Postal Museum, which was the host for this years’ contest.

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp is sold for $5 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stamp collectors, conservationists, and the general public, according to project sponsors. It will be released on June 26, 2009. Proceeds are used to support environmental education efforts and awards for contest winners.

"The first-place winner receives a $5,000 award. The second place winner receives $3,000, the third-place winner receives $2,000, and Conservation Message winner receives $500."

Christopher Voekel, age 8, from New Mexico, was the 2009 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Message Contest winner, with his entry: "Our environment, our responsibility, our future."

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Each of the entries in the 2009 Junior Duck Stamp can be viewed at a web gallery.

Long-Tailed Duck Depicted on Winning Duck Stamp

Long-Tailed Duck with Decoy, painting by Joshua Spies.

A dramatic acrylic painting of a Long-tailed Duck by Joshua Spies of South Dakota is the winner of the 2009-1010 “duck stamp” contest held by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

There were 270 entries in this year’s contest, and entrants had been asked to depict one of the following species of waterfowl: Canada Goose, Brant, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, or Long-tailed Duck. The first-through third-place entries are illustrated on the contest results page.

Funds raised through the mandatory purchase of the $15 duck stamp by waterfowl shootists, are used for habitat conservation. More than $750 million dollars has been raised by selling duck stamps, according to FWS figures. The stamps have been required since 1934.

“The Duck Stamp is a significant funding mechanism for the Service to acquire land for the National Wildlife Refuge System,” said Jim Leach, a refuge supervisor for the FWS and chairperson for the Federal Duck Stamp planning committee. “These lands provide critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. The lands are also open to the American public, and provide hunting, fishing, and environmental education opportunities. The contest to select the artwork involves the arts community, birders, nature enthusiasts, hunters, and stamp collectors.”

“Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the sales of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System,” according to details on the duck stamp web page.

Spies, from Watertown, has a degree in fine arts degree from South Dakota State University. He previously competed in the federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp - better known as the duck stamp - contest, and previously placed first in the South Dakota duck stamp competition, and has been featured in “Wildlife Art” magazine, according to information on his website.

Judging was held and the winner was announced during a two-day contest held the weekend of October 18th, at the Bloomington Art Center, in Minnesota.

First posted on bloggernews.net