You can see the winning artwork for the 2012-2013 Junior Duck Stamp at http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck/. The painting was done by a young woman from Ohio, Christine Clayton. The junior stamp competition offers students across the country an opportunity to compete and, more importantly, a chance to get close to nature.
This stamp and the federal duck stamp go on sale June 29. Money from the federal stamp is used to purchase land for national wildlife refuges. The stamp costs $15. From each dollar 98 cents is used for land purchase. This might be the most efficient and cost-effective government program ever. Waterfowl hunters must buy the stamp, and they've been doing so for decades, carrying the rest of us who enjoy refuges but pay nothing for the privilege. Birdwatchers should buy stamps and pay their share of the cost of refuge land. Refuges provide habitat for far more non-game birds than they do for waterfowl. Stamps will be available Jun 29 at most post offices and some sporting-goods stores.
Buy two stamps. They make good gifts for people who like birds.
