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Vol. 31, No. 52 For more information, contact Duck Stamp Contest coordinator Carla Cassell-Carter at 302-739-5841. Judging of State Duck Stamp Contest Set for March 9Wildlife art enthusiasts, stamp and stamp print collectors, waterfowl hunters, birdwatchers and wetland conservationists will want to circle Friday, March 9 on their calendars for the judging of Delaware's 21st annual Duck Stamp Contest. The competition, which is sponsored by the Division of Fish and Wildlife, will get underway at 6 p.m. at the Delaware Agriculture Museum in Dover. This year's entries, which are still coming in from across the country, are of American mergansers, old squaws, red breasted mergansers, ring-necked ducks, ruddy ducks, surf scoters, greater scaup and American scoters - the eight species still eligible for the competition. Beginning with black ducks painted by Ned Mayne in 1980, the first year of Delaware's waterfowl art competition, 20 of the state's waterfowl species have adorned the annual stamps that are required of waterfowl hunters and prints that are collected by conservationists and are now ineligible. Those species are the snow goose, blue goose, American brant, lesser scaup, redhead, Canada goose, canvasback, mallard, gadwall, pintail, baldpate, wood duck, bufflehead, green-winged teal, hooded merganser, shoveler, American goldeneye, white-winged scoter, whistling swan and blue-wing teal. A panel of five judges drawn from a pool of artists, wildlife biologists, printers, waterfowl collectors and art dealers by a member of Governor Minner's staff will select this year's winner based on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy, and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and print. The prize, in addition to the honor of providing the stamp art, is $2,500 and 150 artist's proofs of the limited edition print. The Division of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, began the duck stamp and print program in 1980 to raise funds for waterfowl conservation, including acquiring and improving the wetland habitats that are vital for the survival of migratory waterfowl. To date, more than $1.8 million has been raised. Stamps and prints from 1998, 1999 and 2000 are still being sold to collectors. After June 30, when the new stamp and print will be available, any remaining 1998 prints and stamps will be destroyed in accordance with Duck Stamp Program policy. For information on the Delaware Duck Stamp Program, contact the Division's contest coordinator, Carla Cassell-Carter, at 302-739-5841. -30- |
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