This information was supposed to precede the earlier post about the plans for spending the addional money to be raised by the price increase for the duck stamp. Now it should make more sense.
A pair of Ruddy Ducks are the birds of choice for the 2015-16 federal duck stamp. It goes on sale this week at most U.S. Post Offices and some sporting-goods store. You will notice in the upper left corner of the stamp the new price — $25, up from $15. This is an increase long needed, as the cost of the land purchased and leased with this money has increased much since the $15 price was established. The stamp remains the best conservation investment you can make. Every birder, everyone who enjoys or appreciates birds should buy this stamp. Much of the land in our national wildlife refuges has been purchased with duck stamp dollars. The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, its official name, indeed supports waterfowl hunting. Many, many more species of non-game birds use this habitat, however. Don't let the hunting designation throw you off. This is first and foremost a conservation stamp. Visit any of our over 500 national wildlife refuges, and count both game and non-game species seen, even in fall migration — no comparison. There's a movement underway to get a non-game bird included on future stamps, perhaps a heron flying across the water in the distance. It is hoped that such an inclusion would emphasize the broader impact of stamp dollars.
