Support a Federal Wildlife Conservation Stamp
No worries, those humans will help!
Juvenile Cattle Egrets in Protected Florida Wetlands
The Federal Duck Stamp has a long history in the U.S., a program devoted to conserving this country’s pristine lands. The stamps themselves are beautiful pieces of art, and remain highly collectible. There are efforts to re-issue the stamp, now called the Wildlife Conservation Stamp, to help the currently severely underfunded wildlife refuges… See below for more information of this wonderful endeavor!
It is now more important than ever to draw on the diverse group of refuge advocates around the country to safeguard America’s wildlife heritage. National wildlife refuges have been underfunded since President Theodore Roosevelt created the first refuge in 1903 and Congress refused to appropriate money to manage it. Without adequate funding, habitats are not restored, invasive species are left unchecked, poaching and other illegal activities occur and our nation’s wildlife suffers.
Already underfunded and understaffed, National Wildlife Refuges are now facing even more budget cuts. And some members of Congress want to cut funding dramatically.
With already over $3 billion worth of incomplete projects, deeper funding cuts to National Wildlife Refuges could have catastrophic results. Further reductions could:
- End popular wildlife education programs for school children
- Close visitor centers
- Lead to layoffs for law enforcement officers, biologists and maintenance staff who keep visitors and wildlife safe
- Close entire Refuges, restricting public access
Learn more about this clever and wonderful initiative to protect our country’s land and wildlife — and sign the petition aimed to the White House — at http://wildlifeconservationstamp.org/
FeyGirl
Serenity Spell 
The image of the egrets is lovely! My neighbors, the birds, are very special to me, and I treasure seeing those herons, ibis, egrets, pelicans, frigates (and many more) each day on the river.
thanks for speaking up for the environment!
z
Thanks so much! I am completely with you… I’m more at home in these protected, special places than I am anywhere else. And among these most amazing critters. I always thank those who fought SO incredibly hard to protect the land from greed…and continue to do so.
♥✿♥
you are right about being grateful to those who stood up for nature’s rights. their survival often depends on our voice. z
Totally…. We are their voice!
I’m with z.
:)!
What an incredibly stunning photograph! So sad, that we all seem to be in the same position. Humans greed affecting wild life and habitation so badly.
Thanks so much!
You’re sadly right… And as angry and sad as I get, when I see swaths of first-growth swamp and forest slated for destruction at the hands of greedy developers… I DO see a growing change in the mindset. More people are beginning to realize the absolute, critical necessity of protecting the land, and its wildlife. It just takes a bit of education and spreading the word….
I still have my Dad’s little collection of duck and fish stamps. They’re beautiful pieces of art, and he loved acquiring them. He was a hunter of sorts – pheasant and squirrel, mostly, for the dinner table – but also belonged to conservation organizations like the Izaak Walton League.
I know a lot of hunters are jerks, but most of them I know are more concerned with preservation of habitat than most urban/suburban dwellers.
I do think the Wildlife Conservation Stamp is a great idea. Actually, I still have some of my Dad’s stamp collection – he was really into it – and there are some wonderful conservation stamps from decades ago! I remember sets devoted to trees, to wildlife, to the prairies. Most of those were from the 1950s and 1960s. I need to dig them out and maybe do a post with them as a way of helping to raise consciousness.
The truth is, people 50 and 60 years ago were more aware of some of these issues than we’d ever imagine – enough so that the postal department was printing regular postage stamps! If we could figure out what caused the change from then to now, we might have a clue about how to go back!
I’m off to sign the petition, and then I’ll dig into those stamps.
OH you should do an article on that, especially since you have a collection… I do know about these stamps, and I’ve seen many of them!! They’re absolutely beautiful — artistic pieces unto themselves. They REALLY need to do another printing. REALLY. They’re LONG OVERDUE. Is that enough caps? Think of the artists that could participate in the endeavor….
You’re right about the hunter issue — I’ve known both sides of the spectrum. While I personally couldn’t fathom killing an animal (I’ve also been a vegetarian my entire life — that’s just how I popped into this crazy world), I realize that MANY are avid conservationists and represent some of the loudest voices on behalf of the protection and preservation of the lands. And then, of course, I’ve encountered some drunken idiots who couldn’t give a hoot about the life of some of the most beautiful creatures on this planet. Shocking. I prefer to remember and think of the former, of course.
I can’t wait to see what you have to write, and what’s in your collection… Here’s to the re-issue of a wildlife stamp, to help fund the protection of these lands! ♥
Love these! ❤
They really are amazing pieces of art, unto themselves. I hope they’re able to bring them back, for the sake of the lands, the wildlife, and general recognition!!
Beautiful images.
Thanks very much!
These nature safe havens need more advocates like you, shouting from the tree tops to help protect them. Fantastic post, and look at you..over 900 followers? You ROCK !
You’re so kind! I didn’t do the hard work on this by any means… But I sure hope that their endeavor can get some movement, and fast (I only recently heard about it)!
LOL — I don’t want to sound unappreciative, because of course I am…HUGELY! But WRT that number, I have to wonder how many are real live people? In more than a few cases I’ve really wondered…
Absolutely Stunning!!!
Thanks so very much! Even the babies tend to have that effect at dusk, with their lovely plumage. 🙂
Reblogged this on Homelandscapes.
Thanks so much for sharing!! 🙂
Your photo is lovely! And what a great idea to have stamps to help conserve the wetlands.
Thanks so much!
These stamps will be supporting…well, hopefully, if they’re passed…refuges across the country. Of course, I represent the swamps and the wetlands, woo-hoo! 🙂
Thanks for this! I love the duck stamps and had not heard of this initiative. I will definitely sign the petition.
I’m so glad!! I hadn’t heard about the latest attempts to re-issue these stamps, either — you can thank a conservationist commentator who was working on behalf of this initiative. I wish there was a bit more time, but hopefully they’ll try, try again…