Hi Mary

If it helps you, Ducks Unlimited preserves more habitat than just for
ducks. In recent years they have expanded what they do (even tho they
still preserve for waterfowl). Much of what they preserve is managed for
multiple species, quite often they can adjust the water levels to
benefit shorebirds at one time and then for waterfowl. Also consider
that if it were not for the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of acres
that they have acquired for waterfowl, many of our duck species would be
in pretty poor shape.

Ruth is right, they are actively working with private landowners and
managing large tracts in eastern Washington for water requiring birds.
This is having great benefits.

Brian Bell
Woodinville WA
bellasoc at isomedia.com

MaryK wrote:

>...go on sale tomorrow. Just a reminder.
>
>I've been buying duck stamps for the past several years, thinking that it's
>nice to be able to flash a pretty, pre-purchased stamp and not have to deal
>w/paying fees at NWRs. Kind of a voluntary taxation thing, I guess.
>
>Have also been thinking about joining orgs such as Ducks Unlimited, Ruffed
>Grouse Society, etc., because of the good conservation work they do. But
>you know, somehow it just goes against my grain/philosophical makeup to
>join/contribute to organizations that conserve waterfowl (or any other kind
>of bird, for that matter) in order to keep their populations up so they can
>go out and shoot them. Am not trying to stir up any sort of hunting debate,
>mind you. It just seems weird. If any of you are members of such
>organizations, I'd love to hear from you re how you reconciled what seem to
>be the orgs' oxymoronic missions and being a birder. Maybe there's
>something I haven't considered, ya know? Or, are there any other
>bird-related conservation orgs that you support that don't have
>hunting/hunters behind them? It's nice to be able to throw $$ at those
>folks every so often.
>
>Good birding,
>Mary
>
>Mary Klein
>Seattle WA
>CelloBird at seanet.com
>
>
>
>
>
>