tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post4382518091549223272..comments2024-02-21T04:41:15.485-05:00Comments on Birding with Kenn and Kimberly: Why Birders Buy the Duck StampKenn Kaufmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770640232654807723noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-77745251891235036852013-11-30T14:21:59.283-05:002013-11-30T14:21:59.283-05:00I agree, buying a stamp shouldn't be required,...I agree, buying a stamp shouldn't be required, but your post has helped me realize that any compassionate bird lover, hunter or otherwise, should join in the campaign! Closer to home, we can take steps like setting up a <a href="http://squirrelproofbirdfeeders.net/brome-1024-squirrel-buster-plus-wild-bird-feeder-with-cardinal-perch-ringbird-feeder-review/" rel="nofollow">yankee flipper squirrel proof bird feeder</a> to keep our local species safe.alvin simmonshttp://squirrelproofbirdfeeders.net/brome-1024-squirrel-buster-plus-wild-bird-feeder-with-cardinal-perch-ringbird-feeder-review/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-37180623597043232242013-09-22T12:04:12.557-04:002013-09-22T12:04:12.557-04:00Duck Stamp purchases are NOT used as a measure of ...Duck Stamp purchases are NOT used as a measure of hunting popularity by the USFWS. I have verified this on several occasions. An Anonymous poster is not a definitive source. I called the USFWS duck stamp office and asked the question directly. Duck stamps are purchased by stamp collectors, birders, hunters and others. To try to use this to measure hunting popularity would be wrong, and they know it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-11899702790254544622013-09-20T21:40:29.389-04:002013-09-20T21:40:29.389-04:00I'm aware that the writers at 10,000 Birds hav...I'm aware that the writers at 10,000 Birds have been saying this for some time. While I respect them as prolific writers and I believe that they support conservation in general, on this topic I think they're seriously misguided. There's a growing swell of support for birders buying the Duck Stamp - from bird clubs, bird observatories, and now even the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - so it's getting harder all the time to claim that Duck Stamp revenue is all considered hunting revenue. I think we're close to a breakthrough on getting the Fish & Wildlife Service to fully acknowledge this, and I would encourage the 10,000 Birds crew to reconsider their position. Kenn Kaufmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04770640232654807723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-30537341014767985832013-09-19T09:14:35.048-04:002013-09-19T09:14:35.048-04:00Ma'am please don't mistake Mr. Anonymous&#...Ma'am please don't mistake Mr. Anonymous' comments as those reflecting all hunters. <br /><br />I am a wildlife biologist and my hunting heritage is what brought me down my career path. While I am proud that the North American model of conservation begat from the shoulders of anglers and hunters, we currently face a problem that cannot be solved with a house divided among consumptive and non-consumptive users. The simple, and oftentimes unfortunate, mentality that I see is that members from conservation groups that tend to be supported by consumptive users (e.g., NWTF, RGS, DU) and conservation groups that tend to be supported by non-consumptive groups (e.g., Audubon, TNC, various land conservancies) is that they feel like they needed to be pitted against each other. Fortunately, even though I am a hunter and I work for one of the groups that tends to be supported by consumptive users, I work daily with my counterparts from groups that tend to be supported by non-consumptive users to conserve wildlife habitat. I do it under the auspices of a game species and they do it under the auspices of an non-game species. Either way the habitat gets conserved which should be the goal of all of us, regardless of your chosen outdoor vice. No doubt, historically anglers and hunters have supported legislation that had them footing the bill through federally supported programs such as the Pittman-Robertson Act, the Dingell-Johnson Act, and the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, but I am humbled and pleased to see such a notable team of authors advocating for participation from the bird watching community. I will be sure to follow your example and advocate the importance of birders to hunters and anglers from my side of the fence as well.<br /><br />Very well written article and very good points. Thank you for the refreshing read! -DC Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-4177667713100570022013-09-16T20:16:08.079-04:002013-09-16T20:16:08.079-04:00I just have to say that this is the kind of antago...I just have to say that this is the kind of antagonistic tone that does bird conservation no good whatsoever. When a message is presented with a "Hunters are good and birders are freeloading losers" kind of attitude it gets us nowhere. <br /><br />I often wonder if hunters would buy Duck Stamps if they weren't required to. I think it's safe to say that many of them would not. Birders DO buy the stamp, In fact, more and more are supporting the Duck Stamp program all the time. The truth is, the stamp has never been marketed to birders. Up until recently, the bird observatory where I am the director was required to send all of our Duck Stamps back right before the biggest birding season of the year. We held our stamps hostage and refused to send them back. We marketed them to birders in several dynamic and highly-effectively ways, and guess what?!?! BIRDERS BOUGHT THE STAMP. <br /><br />The USFWS needs to step up its efforts to market the stamp to birders. Many birders still don't even know it even exists. But when they are given the information and the opportunity to purchase it, a lot of them do. <br /><br />One last point: Hunters take birds from the population. Birders do not. So having the stamp be mandatory for hunters makes sense. Kimberly Kaufmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03111614059575304808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-73246079053479171652013-09-16T20:12:04.062-04:002013-09-16T20:12:04.062-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kimberly Kaufmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03111614059575304808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-49582507641055362192013-09-16T19:17:58.832-04:002013-09-16T19:17:58.832-04:00I'll leave this here for another perspective:
...I'll leave this here for another perspective:<br /><br />http://10000birds.com/is-it-so-hard-to-understand-why-birders-and-wildlife-conservationists-dont-buy-the-duck-stamp.htm<br /><br />The interests of hunters and birdwatchers have a lot of overlap, but there are differences. I already give annually to conservation organizations that own and manage land, and I'd love to do the same thing for the USFWS, but, right or wrong, Duck Stamp revenue is considered hunting revenue. <br /><br />I'll buy a Duck Stamp as soon as I'm sure my purchase won't be rolled into statistics used by folks like my fellow Anonymous poster to prove that hunters are the superior conservationists. What we need is a new stamp to represent users with different interests. Until then, I'll just keep paying my entrance fees. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-78917117718681041522013-09-16T08:54:24.649-04:002013-09-16T08:54:24.649-04:00Some refuges do charge for entry and your duck sta...Some refuges do charge for entry and your duck stamp is accepted as payment. The article above does a great job of explaining why all birders and nature photographers (for that matter) should purchase a stamp (or two). Thanks for the GOS shout-out. GOS has been selling duck stamps to our membership since 2006. You should encourage your local birding organization to do likewise. I'll be glad to help with any questions you have. Just contact me at steve_holzman AT yahoo . com. For details about GOS and duckstamps visit: http://www.gos.org/duckstamp/duckstamp.htm<br /><br />Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-15853142894522133692013-09-15T20:24:33.803-04:002013-09-15T20:24:33.803-04:00From an avid duck hunter that has lived, worked an...From an avid duck hunter that has lived, worked and played in this area for over 40 years. Why doesn't the federal Government REQUIRE birders to buy a stamp to enter a NWR area? If birders supported conservation so passionately, then pull out your wallet and show your support by buying a stamp before entering the area you so freely enjoy. Nothing is free, stop riding the backs of waterfowl hunters and pay up. The truth is that USFWS sees birders as a way to help garner more money for their programs. A waterfowler is required to buy a stamp, so why shouldn't birders be required to? The fact that this article has to be written is somewhat bothersome because many don't get it and those that do are trying to solicit support within their own circles. It should be a requirement to pay for what you truly enjoy.<br /><br />I know I'm not the only waterfowler that feels this way. We buy stamps each and every year - both State and Federal...<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-14546726501335232642013-09-15T11:07:58.565-04:002013-09-15T11:07:58.565-04:00Kenn and Kim -
Thank you for shining a bright li...Kenn and Kim - <br /><br />Thank you for shining a bright light on this important topic. <br /><br />The Stamp is one of the best and also simplest things birders can do for REAL conservation progress.<br /><br />DaveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05393365719648407604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-83274002223374531372013-09-14T14:09:47.872-04:002013-09-14T14:09:47.872-04:00Awesome post!
Thanks for taking the time to bet...Awesome post! <br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to better explain the importance of this stamp. Personally, I am boggled by anyone who would argue its importance. Seems like a no brainer to me!<br /><br />Chad W.Chadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05366027359523309604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-9478307169567489282013-09-14T08:35:17.269-04:002013-09-14T08:35:17.269-04:00Great comments, Kenn.
Let's also not forget o...Great comments, Kenn.<br /><br />Let's also not forget our colleagues at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Back in 2009, Lab Director, John Fitzpatrick, wrote in LIVING BIRD on the importance of the stamp and how non-hunters should appreciate and buy it:<br />http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1497<br /><br />Recently, CLO has expanded that message, especially in their web offerings. The Stamp is all over their "All About Birds" pages, and elsewhere. See here, for example:<br />http://blog.allaboutbirds.org/2013/06/28/eight-great-reasons-to-love-the-new-migratory-bird-stamp/<br /><br />The same day you wrote your blog, Kenn, I was lucky enough to attend the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission meeting in Washington DC to watch how Migratory Bird Stamp dollars are spent. It was the third, and final, meeting for the year. A report to the MBCC indicated that $23.5 million had been collected in the Fund up to 20 August. <br /><br />This particular meeting approved the acquisition of over 2,600 acres of NWR property at three refuges: San Bernard (TX), Turnbull (WA), and Blackwater (MD). Clearly, the benefits were for waterfowl, but the attendees were also told that long-legged wading-birds, shorebirds, Neotropical songbird migrants, and other birds and wildlife benefited.<br /><br />Actually, EVERYBODY who bought a "Duck" Stamp last year made a real contribution to those acquisitions. And these, days, more birders are doing just that. <br /><br />Again, great comments, Kenn!<br /><br /> - Paul J. BaicichPaulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01641451603957559626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283005317456814429.post-7287280098876599662013-09-13T12:37:18.152-04:002013-09-13T12:37:18.152-04:00What a fabulous piece and spot on. I truly believe...What a fabulous piece and spot on. I truly believe that if the estimated 5 million bird watchers in the U.S. all purchased a stamp, they would be noticed by the USFWS.<br />Thanks for this great article.Rita Dumainehttp://www.shduck.comnoreply@blogger.com