Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
07/05/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/05/2024 15:07
DEEP Announces Artwork for the 2025 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp
Press Releases
07/05/2024
DEEP Announces Artwork for the 2025 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp
Winner of Connecticut's Junior Duck Stamp Competition Featured
(HARTFORD)--The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that an acrylic painting of a northern shoveler created by Storrs resident Alice Han (age 14), will be featured on the 2025 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp. Alice's beautifully illustrated painting was selected as the "Best in Show" for the 2024 Connecticut Junior Duck Stamp Art Competition, and it also won first place in the 7th-9th grade category of the competition. Alice's "Best in Show" winner represented Connecticut in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest, where Alice placed in the top 25 in the nation!
The Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program was initiated in the early 1990s when concerned sportspersons worked with DEEP to develop legislation that would generate revenue for wetland conservation. Modeled after the federal Duck Stamp Program, Connecticut's program requires the purchase of a state Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp, along with a hunting license, to legally hunt waterfowl. By state law, funds generated from the sale of Migratory Bird Conservation Stamps can only be used for the development, management, preservation, conservation, acquisition, purchase, and maintenance of waterfowl habitat and wetlands, as well as the purchase and acquisition of recreational rights or interests relating to migratory birds.
"The Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program is a great example of how the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation works - participants pay into funds whose monies are solely dedicated to conservation," said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. "The Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp is a vital source of funding for many of the wetland projects that are conducted in our state. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's competition, and congratulations to Alice on a beautiful painting that will serve as the featured artwork on next year's Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp!"
About the artist
Alice is a grade 9 student who works with the Lin Lin Art Studio in Glastonbury. From a young age, she displayed an innate interest in and talent for art. From watercolor to acrylic, pencil to charcoal, Alice explored different styles and techniques under the guidance of her mentors. She then began participating in various competitions and stumbled upon the CT Junior Federal Duck Stamp competition-an opportunity to not only showcase her talent but also advocate for the preservation of nature. Inspired by the organization's mission, she spent a month vigorously working on her painting, hoping to be part of this incredible project that is aimed to inspire others to appreciate the world around them. Alice is incredibly honored and grateful to have received this award and extends her appreciation to the CT Waterfowl Association for giving her and many others this opportunity.
More on the Junior Duck Stamp Art Competition
From 2012 to 2020, DEEP held a nationwide artistic contest to select the images for the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. However, starting with the 2021 Connecticut Duck Stamp, the artwork from the winner of the Connecticut Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest is now featured. This change was made to display artwork from Connecticut artists on the annual stamps, while at the same time encouraging conservation awareness in young people through the Junior Duck Stamp Program. Every student, from kindergarten through high school, who participates in the Junior Duck Stamp Competition is provided with a limited curriculum on wetland conservation, waterfowl, and nature in general. The program encourages students to explore their natural world, invites them to investigate biology and wildlife management principles, and challenges them to express and share what they have learned with others.
The annual Junior Duck Stamp Art Competition is coordinated and sponsored by the Connecticut Waterfowl Association, in cooperation with the CT DEEP Wildlife Division. The judges reviewed amazing entries submitted by students in grades K-12 from a number of public, private, and magnet school classrooms, private art studios, and individual family entries. The participants in every age group put forth a great amount of time and effort to produce some amazing artwork and conservation messages. Each entry must include a note about how the entrant feels about the species they are depicting and conservation of nature generally. Entries were divided into four age groups spanning from kindergarten through high school. Winners in each age group were then judged against each other to determine the overall state winner. The contest is open to all students, kindergarten through grade 12, who are Connecticut residents. To enter, students create and submit a drawing or painting featuring native waterfowl (ducks or geese). There is no cost to participate.
More on the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program
The Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program has generated over $1,700,000 for the enhancement of wetland and associated upland habitats, as well as garnered additional funds for Connecticut through matching grants from federal conservation initiatives. By combining Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp funds with these additional monies, over $4 million dollars have been available to complete wildlife conservation projects. Through this program, Connecticut has received a 4:1 return on Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp funds. Over 3,845 acres of wetlands in the state have been restored or enhanced using Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp funds, mostly on state-owned wildlife management areas. The funds also have been used to purchase 75 acres of critical wildlife habitat and conduct habitat projects at over 50 sites statewide. These efforts have benefitted many of the approximately 274 birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles of our state that rely on clean, healthy wetlands. In 2021 alone, Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp funds were used, in part, to restore over 110 acres of inland wetland habitat and another 100 acres of saltmarsh habitat.
Federal aid dollars from the hunter-funded Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program can also be used for wetland conservation.
Purchase of Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamps is open to all. Anyone who wishes to support wetland conservation and restoration in our state is encouraged to buy a Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp. Stamps can be purchased for $17 each wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold: participating town clerks, participating retail agents, and through DEEP's Outdoor Licensing System (https://portal.ct.gov/CTOutdoorLicenses). Upon request, stamps can be sent through the mail. A limited number of Conservation Edition Prints, signed and uniquely remarqued by the artists, are also available for purchase. All proceeds from the sale of these prints go into the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. Information about purchasing the prints is at https://portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/stamp/put-your-stamp-on-conservation#Prints. To learn more about the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and the Art Competition, go to https://portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/stamp/connecticut-junior-duck-stamp-art-contest.
Do your part for conservation. Buy a Migratory Bird Conservation stamp and contribute to habitat protection and restoration.
Image included: Winner of the 2024 Connecticut Junior Duck Stamp Art Competition and featured artwork for the 2025 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp, painted by Alice Han, age 14, from Storrs.
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