Birders Gone Wild
I'll let the ODOW give you the nuts and bolts of the stamp and all the great things the funds it generates will do. It's all on their website HERE. ODOW has done a remarkable job with this thing and the information on the website is incredibly thorough without being boring.Someone obviously put a great deal of time and thought into every detail of the stamp, from the design of the printed materials to the fabulous information on the website. Someone clearly cares about this stamp being a success and making a difference.
With the support of many great people at the ODOW, Laura and her team have done an extraordinary job; when you purchase the stamp you'll see what I mean. The attention to detail is apparent before you even get to the stamp itself. I mean, for goodness sakes, even the envelope is beautiful!
I'm going to buy a ton of these things as gifts for my friends and family. I'm even going to give them to some of my enemies. Maybe they'll actually start to like me if I give them something this cool! : )
Look at all this great stuff!
Can you believe that you can get all this for just $15 and that $14 of that supports Ohio wildlife conservation?! You know what? My feelings won't be hurt if you just want to leave this blog and go get one (or several!) of these things right now! Go ahead, GO GET ONE (or several) HERE!
Or, you can come to Ohio, attend an absolutely brilliant conference (this thing attracts more than 900 people each year!--yes, I said 900!), order your stamp in advance at a special reduced price, and pick it up with your name tag at the conference! Ohio Wildlife Diversity Conference details HERE.
In addition to the great job they do regulating hunting, fishing, and trapping in the state, the ODOW can also promote and support wildlife diversity initiatives because they are blessed with an all-star staff. ODOW has assembled a team of great people that have mad-skills at all kinds of things. Case in point...
Take a look at the Baltimore Oriole eye candy on the background sheet that the stamp comes on. The artist is Natalie Beale and she works in the
ODOW graphics department.
You also get this fun window cling.
What a deal for $15!
ODOW has really gone all out to prove their commitment to wildlife diversity. Each year they host a Wildlife Diversity Partners Conference to touch base with their partners across Ohio and encourage anyone involved with wildlife education, research, and conservation to work together for the greater good.
The ODOW is so committed to making sure they "get it right" on every level, that they not only brought their diversity partners in to help make decisions at the very start of the Legacy Stamp idea, they actually gave us the honor of selecting the winner of the first photography contest!
---You might just say that Ohio's Division of Wildlife ROCKS!
Speaking of the photography contest winner, I want to mention Russell Reynolds, the amateur photographer who won this year's stamp photography contest. Not only is he a talented photographer, he is also one of the sweetest and most genuine individuals I've ever met. Watch for more on Russell in a future blog post. There's a fragment of his story HERE. Russell will be joining us to autograph copies of the stamp during our International Migratory Bird Day celebration that takes place during the Biggest Week in American Birding. Here are some details: BIGGEST WEEK IN AMERICAN BIRDING
Every birder should buy this stamp. It's a tiny investment that supports some of the world-class birding areas here in Ohio that ODOW maintains and makes accessible to birders and all wildlife enthusiasts; places like Magee Marsh, for example. If you don't live in Ohio, you should still buy a stamp! It'll give you an excuse to come to Ohio and go birding with us and reap the benefits of the great things your contribution will help support.
This is great. I'm really happy to see state wildlife agencies taking advantage of the successful duck stamp model!
ReplyDeleteAnd as an additional bonus, we'll be able to effectively quantify the effect of birders on conservation in a way that was difficult when we were lumped with hunters buying duck stamps.
You're so right, Nate. We market the Federal Duck stamp heavily to birders and we keep track of the total number we sell. We'll do the same with the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading the blog!
~kim
Absolutely wonderful...wouldn't it e great if one could collect a stamp for each state in the nation?
ReplyDeleteLove your idea, Corey!
ReplyDeleteYou should try to be a little more excited about this! HAHA... I will definately buy one from down here in SC. Thanks alot for making me want to go to Ecuador! I hope Adam makes alot of money and takes me. Did you get my fax?
ReplyDeletePete
Hey Peter!
ReplyDeleteI did get your fax and I swear I'm not ignoring you!
Can you please send me an email: kimkaufman@bsbo.org
I really want to talk about your idea and I also hoped to get a photo from you from Space Coast if you have it.
Tell Adam I said Hello!
Me and the Doodles will be in to buy two! Make sure you save a couple for us.
ReplyDeleteAnything for you and the Doodles, Dave!
ReplyDeleteHow cool--really interested to see how this turns out. I'm definitely going to let out Fish & Wildlife folks in Delaware (the state) know about this program.
ReplyDeleteOhio is really getting to be a hotbed of innovation in birding culture. Very impressive.
Fantastic idea. I wish GA had something like this.
ReplyDeleteEvery week when I can, I faithfully review our birding websites--and my! how they have proliferated!--and I must congratulate you both on yours.
ReplyDeleteWarbler Capital of the World! Indeed! I suspect Kenn's fine hand there: it's a wonder he didn't add a pun or two!!
May the wind be at your back,
Murray
Kim, You missed your calling! You should sell cars! Seriously, I immediately ordered mine. I have to say it is the first time I have ever had to give my weight to donate for wildlife! Yes, they ask your weight and eye color, etc. The stamp is a great idea. I hope it takes off.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for all the positive comments, everyone! We're pretty excited about all the great things this stamp can do, including inspiring other states to follow suit! It's an easy way for birders to give back to the resources we all enjoy and to quantify our contributions as well. This stamp, and others like it, could give birders a collective voice if we buy enough of them!
ReplyDeleteOhio is a great place for someone who's passionate about birds and bird conservation to live. I'm very proud that our Division of Wildlife totally "gets it" when it comes to wildlife diversity.
To quote one of birding's superstars, Jeff Gordon, "Ohio is really getting to be a hotbed of innovation in birding culture."
Too right, Jeff, too right! : )
Oh, and Hallie...
Thank you so much for buying the stamp!, and for the advice. If this whole "bird-thing" doesn't work out for me, I'll put you on my "call list" when I'm working at the used car lot down the street! ; )
thanks again,
~kimmer