D E L I V E R I N G C O N T I N E N T A L C O N S E R V A T I O N D E L I V E R I N G C O N T I N E N T A L C O N S E R V A T I O N Wetlands for To m o r row Edited by Leia Syvertson Berry DU Salutes Vision and Generosity of Major Sponsors ucks Unlimited is guided by one clear vision: filling the for all of DU’s conservation work, and with a recent gift fro m Dskies with waterfowl today, tomorrow, and forever. the Wa t e rfowl Research Foundation, the perils facing sea During the past 73 years, thanks to supporters like those ducks will be better understood. DU is effective because of its highlighted on the following pages, DU continues to make s u p p o rte rs, from those who attend banquets and sign up to significant progress toward fulfilling this vision. become Feather Society members to those who serve as Major Sponsors like the Walton Family Foundation continue volunteer leaders on a national board. It’s this rich diversity to make a diff e rence by pledging their ongoing support for of donors that fuels DU’s eff o rts and will help us achieve our D U ’s conservation work on high-priority w a t e rfo wl land- ultimate, shared goal—abundant waterfowl today, tomorro w, scapes across the continent. Science pro v i d e s the foundation and fore v e r. The Endowment Initiative: Giving a Gift that Gives Forever ne of the best ways to ensure that sustained base of support essential to the and Sally M. Futch Charitable Foundation; ODucks Unlimited’s work continues in success of DU’s conservation mission. the Clyde R. Potter, M.D. Charitable your lifetime and beyond is to give to the Gifts to the endowment never go away; Foundation; and the Charles B. and DU endowment. As one of nine initiatives they just keep giving year after year. Lois B. Macauley Trust. included in the $1.7 billion Wetlands for S u p p o rters like Neil are truly leaving a legacy While Ducks Unlimited welcomes out- To m o rrow campaign, the Endowment of conservation to future generations. right gifts to the endowment, most gifts Initiative may be one of the most import a n t Ducks Unlimited gratefully recognizes come from members and support e r s avenues for ensuring that DU is able to gifts to the Endowment Initiative from who have generously included DU in re s t o re and conserve North America’s wet- the estates of Dwight Rodes their estate plans. Jon Rich, national land re s o u rces for future generations of Chamberlain, William and Maire Cheney, d i rector of gift planning, can assist you w a t e rfowl hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Leo E. Corr, Samuel C. DeLulio, Mark C. in leaving your ultimate legacy for One such gift recently came from the Leachman Sr., Linda Lunning, Charles c o n s e rvation. Call Rich at 901-758-3763 estate of C.A. “Neil” Craig II of Nashville, and Rosemary Meyer, Norman Paus, M. or 1-800-453-8257 or e-mail him at Tennessee. Neil was a DU member for M. “Bud” Peterson, Bernal R. Phipps, j r i c h @ d u c k s . o r g to learn more . m o re than 40 years and a committed James “Jim” D. Range, Robert Michael volunteer for over two decades. During his Reese, Catherine G. “Sis” Reilly, Gordon lifetime, Neil was an active outdoorsman, Thomas Runciman, Howard T. Slaght, businessman, and philanthropist. He Michael Sparks, Charles T. Stone Jr., enjoyed hunting, fishing, and training hunt- Eleanor Mae Stuard, and Cye G. ing dogs. Neil’s final gift of $100,000 will Vaughan. DU is also pleased to recognize be invested in the endowment to ensure a endowment gifts from the Dr. Edward D. M a r ch/April 2010 D U C K S U N L I M I T E D 25 Wetlands for To m o r row D E L I V E R I N G C O N T I N E N T A L C O N S E R V A T I O N The Waterfowl Research Foundation Partners with DU to Study Sea Ducks he Waterfowl Research Foundation of New York, New York, suggest that sea ducks are in trouble—some in severe trouble,” Trecently awarded Ducks Unlimited a generous grant of said DU Chief Biologist Dale Humburg. “Declines in populations $100,000 to support the Atlantic Sea Duck Project. This funding are evident in 10 of 15 sea duck species with three species list- will assist with the purchase of 34 satellite transmitters that will ed as threatened or endangered. The threats to sea ducks are be surgically implanted in white-winged scoters, black scoters, numerous and include loss of wintering and breeding habitat, oil and long-tailed ducks. The ducks will be tracked over many years spills, energy development, contaminants in the environment, to gather data on populations, migration routes, breeding and and urban development.” wintering habitats, and how long and where the ducks stay in The information collected through this research will inform breeding and wintering locations. The transmitters will be DU’s conservation efforts and put us in a position to protect the attached on birds this spring. habitat needed to provide a secure future for sea ducks. “The 15 species of waterfowl known as sea ducks constitute Through a 35-year partnership, the trustees of the Waterfowl 42 percent of the duck species breeding in North America, yet Research Foundation have demonstrated their understanding this group, which includes mergansers, is among the least and commitment to the strong research-driven, science-based understood by managers. Past research and limited survey data conservation programs of Ducks Unlimited. F o u n d a t i o n ’s support is helping to change Walton Family Foundation Support s these statistics by partnering with Ducks Unlimited to re s t o re, protect, and conserv e High-Priority Conservation Work these fragile wetland ecosystems. ucks Unlimited is pleased to part n e r to inform them about programs that foster DU scientists have identified over 2 million Dwith the Walton Family Foundation of re f o restation of these habitats. a c res of flooded bottomland hardwood fore s t Bentonville, Arkansas, to protect the The Mississippi River and its tributaries and wetlands in Mississippi and Louisiana Mississippi River and its watershed in the comprise the third largest drainage basin in that need to be protected in perpetuity. The Mississippi Alluvial Valley—one of DU’s the world, encompassing more than 33 sheer size of this landscape means DU can- highest priority landscapes. This $188,075 p e rcent of the United States. The river is not accomplish this task alone. It is part n e r - grant will allow DU to continue conserv a - the primary source of drinking water for at ships with landowners, other org a n i z a t i o n s , tion eff o r ts protecting frequently flooded least 41 percent of the continental United and foundations like the Walton Family bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands States. Additionally, the river provides a host Foundation that make conserving healthy while also working closely with landowners of other ecological goods and serv i c e s , habitat in key areas like the Mississippi including habitat for fish and wildlife that Alluvial Valley a re a l i t y. add to the quality of life of people living and T h r ough this gift, the Walton Family re c reating in the Mississippi Alluvial Va l l e y. Foundation is joining Ducks Unlimited to S a d l y, 75 percent of this re g i o n ’s once abun- help secure these important habitats in dant forest and associated wetlands have p e r p e t u i t y, investing in the waterfowl of been cleared and drained. In addition, N o rth America and continuing its philan- natural seasonal flooding has been re d u c e d t h r opic legacy of supporting communities in by 50-90 percent. The Walton Family the Delta. Thank you, Walton Foundation! 26 D U C K S U N L I M I T E D M a r ch/April 2010 D E L I V E R I N G C O N T I N E N T A L C O N S E R V A T I O N Wetlands for To m o r row Clean Energy Community Foundation Wetlands for Gift Protects Land in Illinois To m o rrow Contacts in Your State he Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, a Diamond Legacy Sponsor of Ducks TUnlimited, continues to make a significant commitment to waterfowl and wetlands or more information on becoming a Major c o n s e rvation through a leadership grant of $180,000. The grant will be used to acquire and FSponsor and supporting DU’s We t l a n d s p rotect 466 acres of wetlands, backwater lakes, and bottomland forest near the Sanganois for To m o rrow campaign, please contact the State Fish and Wildlife Area in central Illinois.