Ducks Unlimited Annual Report

Ducks Unlimited Annual Report
No.
F o r g e n e r ati o n s , m i g r ati n g wate r f ow l h av e aw e d a n d i n s p i r e d u s w ith th e i r i n n ate
a b i l it y to f ly th o u s a n d s o f m i l e s ac ro s s th e co nti n e nt a n d a r r i v e at o n e s p ec i f i c
pr a i r i e p oth o l e o r w i nte r h av e n . W h e th e r h e a d i n g n o rth f o r th e s p r i n g o r so u th
f o r th e w i nte r , th e s e b i r d s s e e m to h av e a n i nte r n a l f l i g ht p l a n , a n d so do e s D u c k s
U n l i m ite d. O u r p l a n i s to co n s e rv e th e m o s t c r iti c a l and thre ate n e d we tl ands and
wate rfowl hab itats on the contin e nt. L a st ye ar , DU m a d e g r e at p rog r e s s towa r d th at
goa l , a n d th i s y e a r , w e ’ r e ta k i n g f l i g ht towa r d e v e n g r e ate r ac h i e v e m e nt s .
A Bird’s Eye View
Ducks Unlimited’s members and volunteers are one of our greatest strengths. Few organizations have such
a committed and dedicated group of suppor ters. In par t, that’s because DU suppor ters have a deep and
personal understanding of wetlands and waterfowl. For many, it’s a passion rooted in early mornings on
the marsh with good friends, good dogs and hopefully a good hunt. It’s a feeling, a tradition, a heritage
we all want to preserve, and we’re determined to do that through long-term habitat conservation.
Fiscal Year 2007 marked DU’s 70th anniversary
and ushered in a new era of habitat conservation.
Looking back, we do so with a new perspective—
a bird’s-eye view, so to speak. From this vantage point,
we see more than 12 million acres conserved, thanks
to generations of concerned sportsmen and other
conservationists. But we also see more native prairie
plowed and wetlands drained every day.
Looking ahead, we see new horizons and opportunities
for Ducks Unlimited. We also see new challenges.
Urban sprawl and population growth are putting
increasing pressure on the land and tapping our water
resources to near depletion.
We’ve seen how the face of conservation can change.
We understand the dynamics at play. And we have
a plan to meet those challenges head-on. It’s called
Wetlands for Tomorrow, the largest conservation
campaign in history. In this, our second year of
the campaign, we’re well on our way to raising the
$1.7 billion needed to conserve some of the most
critical and threatened habitats on the continent.
We’ve highlighted a few of these habitats in this
report. Places like the Prairie Pothole Region, where
DU is conserving some of the most productive
waterfowl breeding grounds in the world. Places like
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the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, where we’re on the front
lines of a battle to prevent further wetland loss and
conserve those that remain.
Across North America, DU is making measurable
progress in all of our priority areas. Last year, we
raised $213 million to restore and protect more than
230,000 acres of critical habitat in the United States
alone. But we know our work is far from complete.
Every year, we continue to lose 80,000 wetland acres
across the country.
Ducks Unlimited is uniquely positioned to reverse
that trend. As the world’s largest wetland and
waterfowl conservation group, we have the
international network, internal infrastructure and
scientific knowledge to achieve our conservation
mission. Most importantly, we have the passion and
the people to get the job done.
That passion and commitment were palpable at our
annual convention in May, when we elected a new
board of directors who promise to catalyze even
greater conservation achievements for DU. We also
introduced DU’s “Flight Plan,” a five-year business
plan to guide DU through our Wetlands for Tomorrow
campaign and beyond.
DU’s conservation work continues to include onthe-ground habitat projects with private landowners
and public agencies, as well as a growing focus on
public policy. As we’ve seen, decisions made in
Washington about the farm bill, the Clean Water
Act and other federal programs have a profound
effect on millions of acres, millions of waterfowl and
our ability to conserve habitat.
DU is an ambitious organization, always pushing
ourselves to do better and do more. As we launch
into this new era of conservation, we look back with
pride on our first 70 years. We look forward with
anticipation, knowing that as we grow, we will
become even more efficient and effective. We want
you with us all the way, because on the horizon we
see abundant habitat filling the skies with waterfowl
today, tomorrow and forever.
Sincerely,
Bruce Lewis
President
D. A. (Don) Young
Executive Vice President
The Flight Plan
Wat e r f ow l a r e e f f i c i e n t b i r d s . T h e y d o n ’ t wa s t e e n e rg y o n u n n e c e s s a ry t r av e l .
Th e y do n ’ t s p e n d ti m e o n tr i v i a l th i n g s . Th e y co n c e ntr ate o n ly o n w h at b e n e f it s
t h e m m o s t: f o o d, s u rv i va l a n d r e p ro d u c t i o n . E v e ry w i n g b e at, e v e ry t u r n ta k e n by
a m i g r ati n g d u c k h a s a p u r p o s e .
S u c h i s th e wo r l d o f D u c k s U n l i m ite d. W ith l i m ite d ti m e a n d f u n d i n g , W E f oc u s o n o u r
BUSINESS p l a n TO GUIDE US — o u r m i s s i o n to co n s e rv e th e m o s t i m p o rta nt a n d th r e ate n e d
h a b itat s o n th e co nti n e nt. E v e ry do l l a r s p e nt, e v e ry proj ec t u n d e rta k e n i s c a r e f u l ly
co n s i d e r e d to e n s u r e th e g r e ate s t b e n e f it f o r th e lo n g e s t ti m e . It ’ s th at g u i d i n g
p r i n c i p l e th at l e d DU to i d e nti f y s e v e r a l “ Pr i o r it y A r e a s ” f o r o u r co n s e rvati o n wo r k .
Acco r d i n g to h i g h -tec h m a p p i n g a n d o n -th e - g ro u n d r e s e a rc h , th e s e a r e so m e o f th e
m o s t c r iti c a l h a b itat s o n th e co nti n e nt. T h e y ’ r e a l so a m o n g th e m o s t e n da n g e r e d.
Pintails on a courtship flight.
Prairie Pothole Region
It’s a peaceful spring morning on the prairie of South Dakota. A cool breeze
lifts a pintail hen as she twists and dives in midair, eluding six amorous pintail
drakes with her acrobatic flight. With every drop and turn, she tests her suitors
in a courtship flight that could make a Blue Angels pilot swoon. She stops, dives,
flips and spins hundreds of feet above a blanket of flowing grass. The drake who
best matches her flight will likely be the lucky mate she chooses.
Grassland conservation is more than a passion for Wendi Rinehart. It’s a way of life. As a rancher in
South Dakota, she leads by example, placing conservation easements on her own ranchland and encouraging
others to do the same. As a spokeswoman for grassland conservation, Rinehart has turned the heads of state and
federal officials, and helped Ducks Unlimited work with other ranchers to conserve critical waterfowl habitat.
Selecting a mate, though tiresome and wild, is the
easy part. The real challenge lies in successfully
hatching a brood in a world of tractors and
broken prairie. In the distance, a black plume
of smoke serves as a reminder of the danger and
destruction that waits on the prairie below. The
smoke comes from a four-wheel-drive tractor
methodically plowing up native prairie that,
until now, couldn’t be farmed; prairie that has
hatched thousands of generations of pintails—
all gone in a plume of smoke one peaceful
South Dakota morning.
It’s a tragic scene that’s increasingly common,
particularly in the Prairie Pothole Region where
the majority of North America’s waterfowl
breed. This region got its name from the miles
of grassland pocked with wetland “potholes” left
by receding glaciers more than 10,000 years ago.
For breeding waterfowl, it’s an ideal landscape for
nesting and rearing their young.
Unfortunately, the grasslands of the Great Plains
are dwindling and with them go waterfowl. In the
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U.S. portion of the Prairie Pothole Region, more
than 78 percent of the original grassland nesting
cover is already gone. Northern pintail populations
have also plummeted. Even during recent wet
years when other duck species have multiplied,
pintails have failed to rebound. Researchers can’t
say exactly why, but prairie loss is one likely
culprit, and it’s running rampant today.
Despite these changes and challenges, all is not
lost. Nearly 23 million grassland acres remain in
the pothole country of Montana, North Dakota
and South Dakota, and native prairie is still
the most abundant nesting cover in the region.
But time is running out to conserve it. Recent
research conducted by DU and partners shows
that some areas will lose half of their remaining
grassland during the next 34 years.
Thankfully, we have a solution—and it’s one that
appeals to ranchers and farmers. Today, more than
700 landowners are hoping to protect a combined
total of more than 367,000 acres. Unfortunately,
DU lacks the funding to meet this demand. The
prairie’s best hope for conservation lies in direct
conservation efforts like DU’s North American
Grasslands Conservation Initiative, launched
as part of Wetlands for Tomorrow. Through this
initiative, DU is working with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) to purchase perpetual
grassland easements from landowners across the
Dakotas and Montana. Last year, DU worked with
private landowners and the USFWS to conserve
more than 59,000 acres in the Missouri Coteau, a
region of the prairies known as the best habitat for
breeding waterfowl. Since the inception of DU’s
first grassland conservation initiative, Grasslands
for Tomorrow, DU has permanently protected
more than 670,000 acres with conservation
easements on the prairies.
To help support DU’s grasslands
conservation work, visit
www.ducks.org/grasslandinitiative
S E E I N G I S B E LI E V I N G
Nothing compares with experiencing the Prairie Pothole
Region firsthand. Whistling wings and courtship calls.
Sapphire wetlands nestled in an endless sea of grass.
Thanks to the generosity of three donors, the public can
now revel in the sights and sounds of the prairie on DU’s
newest property, the Coteau Ranch.
It started when Saf and Betty Peacock, two longtime
waterfowl hunters and DU supporters, donated 160 acres
next to the 6,500-acre Davis Ranch, which was also
protected, in part, with major funding from the Peacocks.
“Conservation is important to us,” Peacock explains.
“When we felt we were able to make a major contribution
to conservation, our friend Frank Bellrose told us the best
thing we could do for ducks was to help preserve land in
the Missouri Coteau, so that’s what we did.”
The Peacocks weren’t alone in their conservation mission.
Adjoining their donated land were two parcels of prime
waterfowl breeding habitat that were for sale. The owner
of one parcel decided to donate his property to DU.
A philanthropist then bought the second ranch and donated
it to DU as well. Both donors requested no recognition.
As a result, 2,500 contiguous acres of some of the best
duck breeding habitat in the world are conserved forever.
On what we now call the Coteau Ranch, DU is restoring
native prairie, increasing nesting habitat and setting an
example for land stewardship.
Coteau Ranch is open for public hunting, and features
an interpretive trail for visitors. It’s a place for education,
research and inspiration. A place to showcase the best
habitat and the best of DU’s conservation work.
A place for the ducks.
The Prairie Pothole Region once formed the core of the largest
grassland-wetland ecosystem in the world. Today, croplands
are replacing native habitat that’s nearly impossible to restore.
A lesser scaup glides through boreal waters.
Western Boreal Forest
Flying low over the Western Boreal Forest of northern Canada and central
Alaska, you can imagine the vast wilderness that our ancestors encountered
as pioneers in North America. Mile upon mile of spruce and aspen forest is
broken only by sparkling lakes, pristine wetlands, meandering rivers and some
of the largest inland river deltas in the world.
For years, Clarann and Stephen Petersen struggled to farm a drained wetland basin on their family farm
in the Boreal region. Originally, the wetland was drained to drill an oil well on the property. Tired of
fighting nature with little results, the well site was reclaimed and the Petersens contacted DU about
restoring their wetland. They couldn’t be happier with their decision. Today, waterfowl and other
wildlife flock to the Petersen’s wetland. Their two sons, Matthew and Ben, are home-schooled
and say the wetland is a science lab in their own backyard.
Spanning some 1.8 million square miles, the Western
Canada are predicted to increase by as much as
To prepare and plan for the future, DU is creating
Boreal Forest annually hosts up to 41 percent of the
4 degrees Celsius—among the largest increases on
a comprehensive habitat inventory of the region.
continent’s breeding waterfowl—including 12-14
the continent. This warming trend will likely cause
DU biologists and mapping specialists are conduc-
million ducks—making it the second-most important
more frequent drought and flooding. Vegetation
waterfowl breeding area in North America. Even more
zones and wildlife species may shift northward, and
birds flock to the region when the prairies are dry.
as much as 60,000 square miles of the forest may
But today, the boreal landscape is changing. Forest
products companies have secured timber rights to
Through its Western Boreal Forest Conservation
the majority of the commercially harvestable timber
Initiative, DU is laying the groundwork for large-scale
in the southern boreal forest. In other areas, petroleum
conservation efforts in this region. DU and partners
production, oil sands mining and hydroelectric
development could also threaten boreal wetlands and
other wildlife habitats.
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become suitable for small grain farming.
are working with resource extraction companies and
natural resource managers to ensure that development
activities are conducted in a sustainable manner that
While the impacts of natural resources development
will not harm wetlands and waterfowl populations.
are readily apparent, a more insidious threat possibly
DU is also working with indigenous citizens, govern-
faces waterfowl and other boreal wildlife: climate
ments and industries to secure large blocks of protected
change. Temperatures in parts of north-central
habitat throughout the Western Boreal Forest.
ting extensive air and ground surveys to verify
satellite images, classify wetland habitats, determine
water chemistry and monitor waterfowl populations
throughout the spring, summer and fall. Additional
research will study the importance of these habitats
to waterfowl and other wildlife, as well as the potential impact resource development will have on boreal
wetlands. This information will help DU prioritize,
plan and deliver conservation work throughout the
Western Boreal Forest.
To help conserve vital habitat
in the boreal forest, visit
www.ducks.org/borealforest
PH I L A NTH RO PI ST I N TH E FO R E ST
On a crisp winter morning in 1948, Ruel and Jane Johnson
took their young son, Bill, on his first hunting trip. It was
the beginning of a lifelong commitment to waterfowl and
conservation. For the Johnsons, waterfowl hunting was a
way of life; conservation, a passion and an ethic they hoped
to instill in their son. Leading by example, Ruel supported
DU for 25 years before he passed away in 1983, but his
conservation legacy lives on in his son.
Bill Johnson knows from experience that successful
conservation must be comprehensive conservation.
Habitat is crucial at every point in the waterfowl life
cycle. That’s why Johnson, who lives in California, has
generously supported DU’s work in the Western Boreal
Forest. He also supports a conservation easement in
Alberta, a wetlands restoration project in Idaho and
a land acquisition opportunity in Utah.
“I chose to start with the boreal forest because this one
habitat impacts millions of ducks and geese, and we have
a unique opportunity to conserve it in its natural state
right now,” Johnson says. “The boreal forest is especially
important to pintails in the Pacific Flyway. Considering
their current population predicament, I wanted to do
something for pintails in particular, which is why I
supported the projects I did.”
Johnson hopes his gifts will catalyze more contributions
to each of these projects. DU typically leverages private
gifts with public funding sources, raising five to seven times
the original donation. Johnson says this leveraging ability
is one of the main reasons he supports DU.
“Ducks Unlimited does a great job of conserving waterfowl
habitat,” Johnson says. “They also use the money very
effectively—the majority of their money goes into actual
conservation work versus overhead.”
Like his father, Johnson is leading by example to keep his
family’s conservation ethic and hunting traditions alive.
A DU biologist conducts a ground survey of waterfowl in the
boreal forest. Results will help identify habitat needs of boreal
birds and sensitivities to nearby forestry practices.
A mallard makes his approach.
Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Like metal to a magnet, waterfowl flock by the millions to the Mississippi River
every year. It’s the largest river in North America, with a watershed covering
41 percent of the lower 48 states. Likewise, more than 40 percent of the
continent’s waterfowl annually funnel into the river’s southern basin, known
as the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). Millions stay for the winter.
Millions more follow the river farther south to the Gulf Coast of Louisiana.
Wade Litton understands what it takes to ensure the survival of his hunting heritage. It’s something he
learned from his father, and something he’ll pass on to the next generation. It’s a balance. It’s knowing that
giving is equally as important as taking. He’s grown up around farming and now holds a position in the family
business, Wade, Inc. Litton understands that while the earth provides sustenance, it’s our responsibility to
sustain nature’s resources. Our hunting heritage–indeed, our livelihoods–rest in the balance.
In its natural state, the Mississippi was a wild and
downstream into the Gulf of Mexico. These excess
Armed with this information, DU is working on long-
winding river that flooded almost every winter,
nutrients have created a vast area of hypoxic water in
term solutions to conserve habitat for waterfowl in the
inundating millions of acres of forested wetlands and
the Gulf known as the “Dead Zone.”
MAV. Conservation easements are one of the most
open marshes. This created a paradise for wintering
waterfowl. The legendary swamps, bayous and flooded
forests of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley provided a
perfect combination of food and shelter for the birds.
But all is not lost. While extensively altered, the MAV
remains a winter haven for millions of ducks and geese.
It’s the most important wintering area on the continent
for mallards. Many other waterfowl species including
Over the years, the mighty Mississippi has been
partially tamed. In the name of progress, flood
pintail, wigeon, green-winged teal and gadwall winter
here in spectacular numbers.
date, DU has secured nearly 90,000 acres of habitat
with conservation easements in the MAV. More than
2,300 acres were secured last year alone. To complement
these easements, DU also helps restore and manage
lands enrolled in the federal Wetlands Reserve Program
and on state and federal lands. Through permanent
control, agriculture and development, its course has
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effective tools to permanently protect habitat here. To
been straightened, its swamps drained and its channels
Ducks Unlimited recently completed a landscape ana-
protection plans and comprehensive conservation
deepened. This has caused an almost unprecedented
lysis of the MAV. Using satellite imagery and remote
solutions like these, DU is making great strides toward
loss of wetland habitat crucial to migrating and
sensing technology, DU mapped and classified all the
conserving an extensive habitat base for wintering
wintering waterfowl. Wetlands also trap runoff,
remaining waterfowl wintering habitat in the region.
waterfowl in the MAV forever.
filtering contaminants before they reach the river.
The results of this work show that most of the MAV’s
In areas where wetlands have been drained, nutrients
remaining waterfowl habitat is currently unprotected
pass directly into the Mississippi River and flow
and vulnerable to loss or further degradation.
To help conserve vital waterfowl
habitat in the mav, visit
www.ducks.org/mav
H O PE I N TH E VA LLE Y
Waterfowl and waterfowl hunting are engrained in the
history and culture of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley
(MAV). From the ducks of Memphis’ Peabody Hotel
to Nash Buckingham’s stories of hunting the Delta, it’s
a region known for wetlands and waterfowl. Generations
of hunters ventured into the swamps and forests of the
MAV, establishing traditions and conservation ethics that
are still revered today.
It’s that way of life, those memories and traditions, that
prompted Orrin Ingram III to join Ducks Unlimited in
its conservation mission.
At age 12, Ingram’s father’s health problems prevented him
from taking his son hunting. But that didn’t stop Ingram.
“I just bummed off of Dad’s friends and invited myself on
their hunts,” Ingram recalls. “They gave Dad so much grief
that he eventually bought some hunting land in the MAV.”
Ingram has hunted there ever since. The land is near
Kentucky’s Ballard County Wildlife Management Area,
an 8,200-acre refuge open to public hunting. It’s a habitat
close to Ingram’s heart, which is why he wanted to help
conserve it. Ingram knows how difficult it is to find a good
hunting spot if you don’t own private land, so when the
opportunity arose, he jumped at the chance to improve
public hunting opportunities.
“It’s really important to make sure everybody has a good
place to spend some quality time outdoors,” Ingram says.
According to Chris Cole, DU’s director of conservation
programs in Kentucky, there are plenty of opportunities to
restore public habitat in Ballard County.
“There are roughly 20,000 publicly owned acres in Ballard
County alone,” Cole says. “Thanks to Orrin’s donations,
we’re going to work all over those areas, and the vast majority
of that land will be open to public hunting.”
In the MAV, DU staff works with public partners and private
landowners to restore degraded wetlands and conserve
existing habitats in perpetuity.
A gadwall searches for his next meal.
Louisiana’s Coastal Wetlands
Louisiana’s nicknames say it all. License plates call it the “Sportsman’s Paradise.”
Millions know it as “America’s Wetland.” Others call it the “Bayou State.”
Any way you put it, Louisiana is a land entrenched in its outdoor heritage,
and rightfully so. The state’s rich marshes and coastal lagoons are among
the most important ecosystems in America, influencing the entire nation’s
economy, environment and culture.
Kent Frelich, a fisherman from Empire, Louisiana, sees the damage from erosion firsthand.
Not only are his nets pulling up fewer shrimp daily, but more alarmingly, he says they’re pulling
up more and more “chunks of marsh” that are being eaten away by coastal saltwater.
At its mouth near the southern tip of Louisiana, the
If the current rate of loss continues, an additional
Most marine species in the Gulf of Mexico use the
Mississippi River once built productive new marshes
800,000 acres of wetlands will disappear by the year
state’s coastal wetlands at some time during their life
by depositing rich soil carried from the heart of
2040, and the Louisiana shoreline will advance inland
cycle. The marshes also serve as a first line of defense
North America. Every flood created new wetlands,
by as much as 33 miles in some areas.
against hurricanes by diminishing storm surges.
It’s not too late to save America’s wetland, and the
Scientists estimate that one mile of marsh can reduce
habitat is too valuable to ignore. Approximately
a storm surge by about one foot.
while the Gulf of Mexico reclaimed old ones.
It was a dynamic system balanced by marsh creation
and loss—until now.
40 percent of all the coastal wetlands in the lower
Today, Louisiana’s coastal marshes are disappearing.
48 states are located in Louisiana. Each year, as many
It started when man tamed the Mississippi River.
as 10 million ducks and geese flock to these wetlands.
The rich sediment that once spread along the coast
Joining them are herons, egrets, ibises and spectacular
forming new marsh is now redirected by levees off
roseate spoonbills.
the continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico.
ship channels that allow saltwater to flow into
the interior of the marsh, killing wetland plants.
Subsidence and erosion are also eating away at
Louisiana’s coast. Every day, the Gulf devours about
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to curb Louisiana’s wetland loss. Through Wetlands
for Tomorrow, DU has pledged $15 million toward
this effort, and we are already making progress. Last
year, DU conserved more than 20,000 wetland acres
Along the coast, birds find a smorgasbord of aquatic
Compounding the problem are miles of canals and
Ducks Unlimited is launching an unprecedented effort
vegetation, seeds, tubers and invertebrates on which
to feast during the winter. The food fuels their
migration north, sending them back to the breeding
in Louisiana, bringing the total to nearly 240,000 acres
conserved in the state. Still, we know we have a long
way to go before America’s wetland is safe.
grounds in prime condition for nesting.
50 acres of coastal wetlands. That equates to the loss
But waterfowl aren’t the only beneficiaries of
of an area roughly the size of one football field every
Louisiana’s wetlands. More than 30 percent of the
30 minutes. Then there’s climate change, which could
nation’s commercial fish harvest and 25 percent of
raise sea levels and further stress the system.
our energy supplies originate along Louisiana’s coast.
To help conserve vital waterfowl habitat
along the louisiana coast, visit
www.ducks.org/lacoast
SAV I N G S PO RT S M A N ' S PA R A D I S E
Ducks Unlimited is committed to restoring Louisiana’s
marshes and preventing further loss.
Through the Louisiana Coastal Conservation Initiative,
DU is teaming with state agencies such as the Louisiana
Department of Natural Resources to complete significant
restoration work along the coast. On the public policy front,
DU is advocating large-scale Mississippi River diversion
projects, which would modify levees and allow water and
sediment to flow back into marshlands, restoring the process
that historically built Louisiana’s coastal wetlands.
Ducks Unlimited is and will continue to be a conservation
leader in Louisiana. Combining our engineering and
scientific expertise with other partners, we’re tackling largescale restoration efforts, while simultaneously implementing
smaller-scale projects to improve management capacity.
For example, DU is constructing earthen terraces that
reduce saltwater intrusion and help re-establish native
grasses in wetlands. We’re also installing water-control
structures to help restore natural water and salinity levels
in coastal marshes. Through these and similar projects,
DU is making a difference in Louisiana, and you can help.
Louisiana's coastal marshes are under attack on two fronts. Manmade canals and shipping channels combined with erosion and
subsidence claim about 25 square miles of marshland each year.
A cinnamon teal enjoying clear waters of the Central Valley.
California’s Central Valley
Dense fog regularly forms during cool winter nights in the Central Valley
of California, where temperatures rarely dip below freezing. In the serenity
of a quiet marsh, you wouldn’t know that the ecology of this vast valley is in
deep trouble. As agriculture and urban development expand in the region, water
is becoming an increasingly rare commodity.
A rice farmer and land developer, Al Montna, became the first landowner in California's
Central Valley to place his land in an agricultural conservation easement held by Ducks Unlimited.
As current Chairman of the California Board of Food and Agriculture, Chairman of the USA Rice
Federation and duck club owner, Montna advocates wildlife-friendly agriculture, protection
of farmland and continuing waterfowling traditions.
Flanked by coastal mountains and the Sierra Nevada
is part of the region’s appeal for waterfowl. Flooded
increases, urban development, wildlife and agriculture
range, the Central Valley was once a wet world of
fields of waste rice and other grain crops offer food
are in direct competition for limited space and water.
serpentine streams and rivers, sprawling lakes, lush
for migrating and wintering ducks and geese. In
grasslands and wetlands annually fed by mountain
some years, the Central Valley hosts more than
shortages. With such dramatic population growth
runoff and seasonal flooding. Over the years, more
60 percent of the Pacific Flyway’s waterfowl.
expected in the future, the region’s remaining wetlands
and more people have settled in this fertile landscape,
The wetlands of the legendary Grasslands region
must be conserved today. Ducks Unlimited believes
and today, the Central Valley’s vineyards, orchards
alone regularly support more than 1 million dabbling
that a balance between the needs of people and
and fields produce one quarter of America’s food.
ducks. Nowhere in the world do more waterfowl
wildlife is possible. DU is working with agriculture
As agriculture and industry took hold, the Central
rely on a smaller wetland base.
and urban interests to raise awareness about the
Valley suffered extensive wetland losses. Of the
4 million wetland acres that once existed in the
region, only 9 percent—or about 350,000 acres—
remain intact.
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The Central Valley already is facing severe water
importance of wetlands and how conserving them
Unfortunately, this wetland base is rapidly declining.
During the next 35 years, the Central Valley’s human
population is expected to more than double, from
benefits everyone. DU is also working closely with
agriculture and other groups to secure long-term
water supplies for wetlands through public policy.
5.7 million people today to an estimated 13.1 million.
Despite such drastic losses, the Central Valley remains
It’s the fastest growing region in one of the fastest
a haven for waterfowl. In fact, intensive agriculture
growing states in the nation. As the demand for land
To help conserve vital wetlands
in california's central valley, visit
www.ducks.org/centralvalley
H OW YO U C A N H E LP
The situation in California’s Central Valley is indicative of
a larger problem that increasingly threatens North America’s
wetlands. As populations boom in the United States and
beyond our borders, more habitat will fall victim to the
growing need for land and water.
North America has already lost more than half of its original
wetlands, and every year at least 80,000 more acres are lost
in the United States alone. Restoring drained wetlands and
protecting those that remain are the only ways to reverse
this trend. The implications of continued habitat loss are
alarming, not only for waterfowl enthusiasts, but also for
everyone in North America. Wetlands are crucial to the
health of our environment. They purify our groundwater
and filter contaminants before they reach rivers, lakes and
streams. Wetlands help control flooding and storm surges
and provide habitat for more than 900 wildlife species—
not to mention the pure, wholesome fun they provide
for families and friends who hunt, fish and enjoy the
great outdoors. The good news is we can conserve North
America’s wetlands and waterfowl habitats.
One of the best ways to help is by supporting Ducks
Unlimited’s conservation work on the ground. Through
DU’s Wetlands for Tomorrow campaign, you can help
conserve some of the most vital and threatened habitats on
the continent. To find out more about DU’s Wetlands for
Tomorrow campaign and what you can do to make a lasting
difference, visit www.ducks.org/wetlandsfortomorrow.
DU is helping find sustainable solutions to the Central Valley's
water problem. This dam and fish ladder will flood wetlands for
waterfowl while keeping salmon in their native streams.
Spreading Our Wings
2 0 07 m a r k e d D u c k s U n l i m ite d’ s 70th a n n i v e r s a ry. It wa s a y e a r to r e m e m b e r , a n d
DU ’ s vo lu nte e r s co m m e m o r ate d it w e l l . Th a n k s to th e i r pa s s i o n a n d co m m itm e nt,
DU ’ s
g r a s s root s
fundr aisers
b ro u g ht
in
more
th a n
$48
million
for
h a b itat
co n s e rvati o n . A n d f o r e v e ry do l l a r r a i s e d, DU s p e nt 87 c e nt s d i r ec tly o n o u r
h a b itat co n s e rvati o n m i s s i o n .
A lot h a s c h a n g e d ov e r DU ' s f i r s t 70 y e a r s , b u t o n e th i n g r e m a i n s th e s a m e :
DU ' s m i s s i o n . D u c k s U n l i m ite d h a s a lways f oc u s e d o n h a b itat co n s e rvati o n f o r
wate r f ow l a n d a lways w i l l . To day, th at m i s s i o n i s m o r e i m p o rta nt th a n e v e r . A s th e
th r e at s to N o rth A m e r i c a’ s h a b itat s e x pa n d, w e ’ r e s pr e a d i n g o u r w i n g s w ith n e w
a n d i n n ovati v e prog r a m s to g e t m o r e p eo p l e i n vo lv e d i n h a b itat co n s e rvati o n .
D uc k J am B uilds
a Roc k ing Tradition
The Aggieland Chapter of Ducks Unlimited hosted
its 2nd Annual Duck Jam concert, sponsored by
Budweiser, on April 11 in College Station. More
than 4,000 students and adults flooded into
Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheatre to experience what
happens when great Texas Country music collides
with Ducks Unlimited! The all-day event featured
bands such as Rich O’Toole, Wade Bowen,
Micky and The Motorcars, Jason Boland and
the Stragglers, and two Texas Music favorites:
Reckless Kelly and The Randy Rogers Band.
Since the first Duck Jam in 2006, attendance
grew by 1,000 people, making this concert series
a mainstay in the Texas music arena. The 3rd
Annual Duck Jam is already set for April 26,
2008, so mark your calendars and don’t miss
this electrifying event!
Other small-venue Texas concerts to promote
and raise funds for DU have occurred in Austin,
Corpus Christi, San Marcos, and College Station.
Together these shows had over 1,000 in attendance.
Waterfowl
H unter Parties
There’s a new gig in town for the hard-core duck
hunter. DU’s Waterfowl Hunter Parties are a bash
for hunters, by hunters. These Ducks Unlimited
fundraising events feature more than 60 dozen
Greenhead Gear decoys, Avery blinds and,
of course, guns. The atmosphere is pure hunting. Simply wearing camo gives you a shot at winning
a Benelli Nova 12-gauge Max-4 camo shotgun.
Purchase a ticket for an event near you at
www.ducks.org/whp
H unt & H ome :
A re You Game ?
In January 2006, Ducks Unlimited launched Hunt
& Home, a novel new fund-raising idea bringing
habitat conservation and wild-game cooking
together for a tasty good time.
Here’s how it works: DU volunteers host a Hunt
& Home party at their home, office, or favorite
gathering place. Guests hear from volunteers about
DU, watch an award-winning video and peruse
our catalog. They sample exclusive DU food as the
host offers cooking demonstrations. And thanks to
the volunteer support of Hunt & Home advisors
and hosts, 100 percent of party profits are devoted
to DU’s habitat conservation work. More than 100
volunteer leaders are hosting parties and introducing
DU to new supporters across the country.
To learn more about hunt & home, visit
www.ducks.org/huntandhome
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Project W ebfoot
gets a Roc k- S olid Boost
Morgan Freeman’s Rock River Foundation awarded
Ducks Unlimited $25,000 to help increase wetland
education programs in Mississippi schools through
Project Webfoot.
“Enjoying the outdoors is a great part of Mississippi’s history. Even so, many of our youth have
not had opportunities to witness wildlife and
wetlands firsthand,” said Phillip “Otey” Sherman,
member of the Rock River board. “We hope this
partnership with Ducks Unlimited exposes these
great natural places to our youth.”
Through Project Webfoot, DU provides teachers
with learning materials that bring the world of
wetlands to life for students in grades 4 through 6.
Last year, 209 classrooms participated in Project
Webfoot, reaching more than 5,000 students, and
this year participation has already doubled.
As a supporter of DU’s conservation work and a
spokesman for the Wetlands for Tomorrow
campaign, Morgan Freeman regularly demonstrates his commitment to conservation. By
supporting Project Webfoot, Freeman and the
Rock River Foundation are ensuring the future
of wetlands and habitat conservation.
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Birds Of A Feather
D U s u p p o rte r s a r e th e k i n d o f p eo p l e w h o wa nt to m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e i n th e wo r l d.
W e wa nt to l e av e a l eg ac y o f h e a lth y h a b itat a n d a b u n da nt w i l d l i f e f o r o u r
c h i l d r e n a n d g r a n dc h i l d r e n to e n j oy. F o r so m e D U do n o r s , th e b e s t way to do th at
i s th ro u g h D U ’ s M a j o r S p o n so r prog r a m . W h e th e r it ’ s a c a s h g i f t o r e s tate p l a n n i n g ,
th e s e g e n e ro u s p h i l a nth ro p i s t s go a b ov e a n d b e yo n d th e c a l l o f du t y, g i v i n g a n d
do i n g m o r e f o r D u c k s U n l i m ite d a n d o u r co n s e rvati o n m i s s i o n .
B I L LY O E H M I G
Billy Oehmig’s passion for conservation is rooted in a childhood spent outside.
“I grew up in the country, on the dirt roads and back roads,” Oehmig recalls. “Dad gave me a pointer puppy and took me quail and dove hunting at an early age. But duck
hunting was always special. You like most what you get the least of, and we didn’t have many ducks in south Georgia. That’s what made me care about conservation.”
As an adult, Oehmig moved to Texas, where he joined the local DU committee and got serious about conservation. “It’s inherent in those of us who are able to do so to pass
along a legacy of conservation and preservation, not only for waterfowl, but for all wildlife species,” Oehmig says. “I think that’s our duty, and I take it seriously.”
Oehmig has given generously to DU initiatives on both breeding and wintering areas. Most recently, he donated and endowed three conservation easements on his
property in Texas. Working with DU biologists, he has turned the habitat into a winter haven for waterfowl and many other wildlife species.
“It’s not only for ducks and geese, it’s for everything else that comes down the pipe,” Oehmig says. “Whether it’s watching the hummingbirds that migrate at the same
time as the teal or the painted buntings that come down a little later, it’s just one of nature’s true joys. It’s kind of like looking at wood ducks in full plumage. You’ve just
got to say, ‘Oh wow, how can we make sure the next generation gets to see the same thing?’”
Oehmig found the answer in Ducks Unlimited. Through conservation easements and projects on the prairies, he’s helped conserve habitat forever.
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DAV I D K . W E L L E S J R .
Conservation comes naturally for Deke Welles of Perrysburg, Ohio. His parents planted the seed of conservation in Welles,
but what made it grow was witnessing habitat destruction firsthand.
“I live in northwest Ohio, and at one point, this whole area was referred to as the Great Black Swamp,” Welles says.
“But now more than 95 percent of its wetlands have been drained for agriculture and development. The county to our south was
once terrific habitat for pheasants and other wildlife, but with the draining of the swamp and changes in agricultural practices,
the waterfowl and pheasants disappeared.”
That experience inspired Welles to take a proactive approach to conservation. Today, he supports DU as a volunteer and major sponsor. He serves on DU’s Wetlands
America Trust board and generously endorses DU’s conservation work in the Great Lakes region.
“I recognized how vulnerable our remaining wetlands are, especially in northwest Ohio, where we have continuing urbanization, development and problems with
invasive species,” says Welles. “Knowing it’s possible to restore some aspects of the Great Black Swamp and maintain existing wetlands is what drives my commitment to
conservation. In addition, we have a sizeable black duck population in this area that also needs to be sustained, and DU’s conservation work is doing all of the above.”
As a member of Winous Point Shooting Club and president of the Winous Point Marsh Conservancy, Welles also supports local conservation efforts. It’s all part
of a conservation ethic—the desire to give something back—that keeps Welles and other major donors making a difference for DU. Making a difference for the ducks.
D R . & M R S . M AC K K A R N E S
When asked why he cares about conservation, Dr. Mack Karnes recalls his childhood in southern Illinois. Every fall, when the air turned crisp and skeins of geese
honked overhead, Karnes felt a spark inside. “I wasn’t quite sure why, but I knew there was something special about the fall and those geese flying south,” Karnes recalls.
Today, Karnes is doing his part to keep the geese and ducks flying for generations to come. Dr. Karnes and his wife, Debra, are longtime supporters of Ducks Unlimited’s
Living Lakes Initiative, giving generously to support conservation in the Great Lakes region.
“The Great Lakes are an incredible resource,” Karnes says. “They’re important not only to me and to waterfowl, but to this country and the world. I think that one of
the things the Lord told us to do was ‘tend the garden,’ and that’s what Debra and I are trying to do. We’re tending the garden, and giving back what was given to us.”
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TH E WA L K E R FO U N DATI O N
In 1973, William “Bill” Walker Jr. of Jackson, Mississippi, purchased some property along the Mississippi River where Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi meet.
His vision was not just to restore the land, but to turn it into the nicest habitat in the country. For that, he turned to Ducks Unlimited. Thus began a conservation
partnership that still thrives today.
Walker was a staunch supporter of Ducks Unlimited, and his conservation legacy lives on through the Walker Foundation.
“We have continued to support and tried to continue his vision for the foundation in restoring habitat specifically in the Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana area,”
says William “Will” Walker III, who now runs the foundation with his mother and two sisters. “We’ve also started supporting DU’s GIS [Geographical Information
Systems] work in the South in addition to on-the-ground restoration in the three-state area.”
Supporting conservation comes naturally for the entire Walker family.
“The whole family has a passion for the outdoors,” says Walker. “My sisters and I grew up in the outdoors and are all avid hunters, my mother, too. She loves just getting
out and seeing the wildlife and wild places.”
A lot has changed since 1973. The Walker family now includes 10 grandchildren, and many more acres conserved. The family still owns and visits the same land Bill Walker
bought in 1973, but it’s different too. What was once sub-par habitat is now a haven for wintering waterfowl—proof that visions can come true and conservation works.
CO N O CO PH I L L I P S
The fast-paced world of corporate America hasn’t diminished the connection to the great outdoors for ConocoPhillips.
As a leading producer of oil and natural gas, ConocoPhillips recognizes the finite nature of the earth’s natural resources and
the need to practice wise stewardship.
“We believe in striving for sustainable development,” said Bob Ridge, vice president of Health, Safety & Environment
for ConocoPhillips. “One of our particular environmental interests is conserving the natural habitat of migratory birds, a mission
that has been at the forefront of our environmental efforts for decades. This mission is critical in an increasingly crowded world
that is rapidly encroaching on vital habitat in many areas.”
ConocoPhillips has long endorsed the work of Ducks Unlimited to conserve waterfowl habitat, particularly in the Playa
Lakes region, funding more than 250 related conservation projects over the past 17 years. The region is a recharge zone for
the Ogallala Aquifer and a source of shelter, food and water for wildlife. It’s also the site of much of ConocoPhillips’ asset base
and home to many of its employees. To help conserve playa habitats, ConocoPhillips supports DU.
“We view Ducks Unlimited as a leader in habitat restoration and conservation efforts, from the Arctic regions of Alaska and Canada to the wintering areas in the
southern United States,” said Ridge. “DU’s work is well known and highly respected throughout the conservation community. We can rest assured that contributions
made through Ducks Unlimited will make a tangible impact, and will be leveraged along with the contributions of others.”
35