2021 Junior Duck Stamp Planner - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service July 2020 - December 2021 - US Fish ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2021 Junior Duck Stamp Planner July 2020 - December 2021 Featuring artwork from the 2020 Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest 2020 Jr. Duck Stamp Contest www.fws.gov/juniorduck
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Wood Duck
(Aix sponsa)
1st Place
Artist: Madison Grimm Age: 13 State: SD Medium: Acrylic
Species Information
Average length: 18.5 inches
Average weight: 1.5 lbs.
The Wood Duck is often recognized as
it is one of the most colorful and eye-
catching of all native North American
waterfowl species. Wood Ducks live
in riparian habitats, wooded swamps,
and freshwater marshes, where they
nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes
put up around lake margins. They are
one of the few duck species equipped
with strong claws that can grip bark
and perch on branches. They have a
unique shape among ducks—a boxy,
crested head, a thin neck, and a long,
broad tail. In flight, Wood Ducks hold
their heads up high, sometimes bobbing
them. Drakes have a striking appear-
ance, sporting a glossy head with in
iridescent greens, blues, and violets, cut
with white stripes, a chestnut breast
and buff sides. Hens are gray-brown
with white-speckled breast.
JUNE 2020 AUGUST 2020
JULY 2020
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 1
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4
Independence Day
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
Eid al-Adha
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Hooded Merganser
(Lophodytes cucullatus)
2nd Place
Artist: Chowon Kim, Age: 17, State: NY, Medium: Acrylic
Species Information
Average length: 15.8-19.3 inches
Average weight: 1 lb.
“Hooded” is something of an under-
statement for this extravagantly crest-
ed little duck. Adult males are a sight
to behold, with sharp black-and-white
patterns set off by chestnut flanks. Fe-
males get their own distinctive elegance
from their cinnamon crest. Hooded
Mergansers are fairly common on small
ponds and rivers, where they dive for
fish, crayfish, and other food, seizing it
in their thin, serrated bills. They nest
in tree cavities; the ducklings depart
with a bold leap to the forest floor when
only one day old. Hooded Mergansers
are fairly common on small ponds and
streams across their breeding range.
In fall through spring, head to unfrozen
lakes or shallow, protected saltwater
bays and look for them mixed in flocks
with other small divers like Bufflehead
and Ruddy Ducks. Pay attention for
flying ducks too—a fast series of trun-
cated whistles from high overhead may
signal the rapid wingbeats of a commut-
ing merganser.
JULY 2020 SEPTEMBER 2020
AUGUST 2020
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 30
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Northern Pintail
Anas acuta)
3rd Place
Artist: Meijia Tang, Age: 16, State: MD, Medium: Acrylic and Oil paints
Species Information
Average length: 20-26 inches
Average weight: 1.8 lbs.
Drake Northern Pintails are often
described as “elegant.” Character-
ized as appearing slimmer than most
species of waterfowl, with long pointed
black tail feathers, a long slender neck
accentuated by a white stripe along the
back of their dark brown head and neck,
and long narrow wings, they are rela-
tively easy to recognize. Hens are also
slender and appear to have a longer tail
than most other female ducks but are
overall more of a gray color. Pintails
are found throughout North America
and are found in seasonal wetlands,
grasslands, wet meadows, tidal marshes
and other shallow water areas. They
begin nesting as soon as the ice starts
to melt and may be seen as early as
April as far north as Canada. They
migrate at night at about 48 miles per
hour. Northern Pintails are also found
in Asia, India, Middle East and across
Europe.
AUGUST 2020 OCTOBER 2020
SEPTEMBER 2020
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 1 2 3
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
30 31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Labor Day
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Rosh Hashanah
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
First Day of Federal Duck Stamp Federal Duck Stamp
Autumn Art Contest Day 1 Art Contest Day 2
National Hunting
and Fishing Day
National Public Lands Day
27 28 29 30
Yom Kippur
World Rivers Day
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Northern Pintail
(Anas acuta)
4th Place
Artist: Margaret McMullen, Age: 17, State: KS, Medium: Acrylic
Species Information
Average length: 20-26 inches
Average weight: 1.8 lbs.
Drake Northern Pintails are often de-
scribed as “elegant.” Characterized as
appearing slimmer than most species of
waterfowl, with long pointed black tail
feathers, a long slender neck accentu-
ated by a white stripe along the back of
their dark brown head and neck, and
long narrow wings, they are relatively
easy to recognize. Hens are also slen-
der and appear to have a longer tail
than most other female ducks but are
overall more of a gray color. Pintails
are found throughout North America
and are found in seasonal wetlands,
grasslands, wet meadows, tidal marshes
and other shallow water areas. They
begin nesting as soon as the ice starts
to melt and may be seen as early as
April as far north as Canada. They
migrate at night at about 48 miles per
hour. Northern Pintails are also found
in Asia, India, Middle East and across
Europe.
SEPTEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020
OCTOBER 2020
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
27 28 29 30 29 30
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
National Wildlife Columbus Day
Refuge Week
begins
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Halloween
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Hooded Merganser
(Lophodytes cucllatus)
5th Place
Artist: Saffron Labos, Age: 16, State: ME, Medium: Colored pencil
Species Information
Average length: 15.8-19.3 inches
Average weight: 1 lb.
“Hooded” is something of an under-
statement for this extravagantly crest-
ed little duck. Adult males are a sight
to behold, with sharp black-and-white
patterns set off by chestnut flanks. Fe-
males get their own distinctive elegance
from their cinnamon crest. Hooded
Mergansers are fairly common on small
ponds and rivers, where they dive for
fish, crayfish, and other food, seizing it
in their thin, serrated bills. They nest
in tree cavities; the ducklings depart
with a bold leap to the forest floor when
only one day old. Hooded Mergansers
are fairly common on small ponds and
streams across their breeding range.
In fall through spring, head to unfrozen
lakes or shallow, protected saltwater
bays and look for them mixed in flocks
with other small divers like Bufflehead
and Ruddy Ducks. Pay attention for
flying ducks too—a fast series of trun-
cated whistles from high overhead may
signal the rapid wingbeats of a commut-
ing merganser.
OCTOBER 2020 DECEMBER 2020
NOVEMBER 2020
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 30 31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Daylight Saving
Time ends
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Veterans Day
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Thanksgiving Day
29 30
Advent begins
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Red-breasted Merganser
(Megus serrator)
State Best of Show
Artist: Anna Grace Swanson, Age: 17, State: FL, Medium: Acrylic
Species Information
Average length: 20.1-25.2 inches
Average weight: 1.8 lbs.
The Red-breasted Merganser is a
shaggy-headed diving duck also known
as the “sawbill”; named for its thin bill
with tiny serrations on it that it uses to
keep hold of slippery fish. It breeds in
the boreal forest on freshwater and salt-
water wetlands. Males are decked out
with a dark green shaggy head, a red
bill and eye, and a rusty chest. Females
lack the male’s bright colors but also don
the same messy do. It parades around
coastal waters and large inland lakes
in the United States and Mexico in the
winter. The winter months are the best
time to go looking for a Red-breasted
Merganser, when they are fairly com-
mon along coastal waters in the United
States and Mexico. Look for them in
sheltered estuaries and bays swimming
along in small groups or by themselves.
Red-breasted Mergansers forage near
the shore, so a spotting scope may not
be needed to get good looks. They often
sit low in the water and have a profile
similar to a loon at a distance, but they
have a much thinner bill. Females and
nonbreeding males look like Common
Mergansers, but Red-breasted Mergan-
sers tend to use saltwater more often
than Common Mergansers.
NOVEMBER 2020 JANUARY 2021
DECEMBER 2020
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
29 30
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Hanukkah begins
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
First Day of Winter Christmas Day Kwanzaa
27 28 29 30 31
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Bufflehead
(Bucephala albeola)
State Best of Show
Artist: Ashley Kim, Age: 17, State: MN, Media: Acrylic
Species Information
Average length: 12.6-15.8 inches
Average weight: 0.6 lbs.
A buoyant, large-headed duck that
abruptly vanishes and resurfaces as
it feeds, the tiny Bufflehead spends
winters bobbing in bays, estuaries,
reservoirs, and lakes. Males are strik-
ing black-and white from a distance.
A closer look at the head shows glossy
green and purple setting off the strik-
ing white patch. Females are a subdued
gray-brown with a neat white patch on
the cheek. Bufflehead nest in old wood-
pecker holes, particularly those made
by Northern Flickers, in the forests of
northern North America. During the
winter, look for these tiny, black-and-
white ducks in sheltered coves along
the Atlantic or Pacific coast, or on in-
land ponds in southern North America.
While foraging they spend half their
time underwater, so scan carefully and
patiently. In the summer you can visit
their breeding grounds near lakes in
the boreal forest and aspen parklands
of central Canada.
DECEMBER 2020 February 2021
JANUARY 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
27 28 29 30 31 28
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2
New Year’s Day
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Orthodox Christmas
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Martin Luther King Jr Day.
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos)
State Best of Show
Artist: Erik Miller, Age: 18, State: MT, Medium: Oil
Species Information
Average length: 19.7-25.6 inches
Average weight: 2.2 lbs.
If someone at a park is feeding
bread to ducks, chances are there
are Mallards in the fray. Perhaps
the most familiar of all ducks,
Mallards occur throughout North
America and Eurasia in ponds and
parks as well as wilder wetlands
and estuaries. The male’s gleaming
green head, gray flanks, and black
tail-curl arguably make it the most
easily identified duck. Mallards have
long been hunted for the table, and
almost all domestic ducks come from
this species. Look for Mallards at
local city or suburban parks, where
they’re likely to be accepting food
handouts from humans. If you want
to see them in a more natural set-
ting, visit a nearby pond or lake—
Mallards are likely to be the ducks
you most frequently see.
JANUARY 2021 MARCH 2021
FEBRUARY 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31
31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 6
World Wetlands Day
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Valentine’s Day President’s Day Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Ash Wednesdsay
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Red-breasted Merganser
(Mergus serrator)
State Best of Show
Artist: Lilly Zhang, Age: 17, State: NM, Media: Watercolor
Species Information
Average length: 20.1-25.2 inches
Average weight: 1.8 lbs.
The Red-breasted Merganser is a shag-
gy-headed diving duck also known as
the “sawbill”; named for its thin bill with
tiny serrations on it that it uses to keep
hold of slippery fish. It breeds in the
boreal forest on freshwater and saltwa-
ter wetlands. Males are decked out with
a dark green shaggy head, a red bill and
eye, and a rusty chest. Females lack
the male’s bright colors but also don
the same messy do. It parades around
coastal waters and large inland lakes
in the United States and Mexico in the
winter. The winter months are the best
time to go looking for a Red-breasted
Merganser, when they are fairly com-
mon along coastal waters in the United
States and Mexico. Look for them in
sheltered estuaries and bays swimming
along in small groups or by themselves.
Red-breasted Mergansers forage near
the shore, so a spotting scope may not
be needed to get good looks. They often
sit low in the water and have a profile
similar to a loon at a distance, but they
have a much thinner bill. Females and
nonbreeding males look like Common
Mergansers, but Red-breasted Mergan-
sers tend to use saltwater more often
than Common Mergansers. Fede
Art
FEBRUARY 2021 APRIL 2021
MARCH 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 3 9 10
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
28 25 26 27 28 29 30
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 6
ME, MO, OH, PA, RI, VA Orthodox Lent Begins World Forestry Day
Jr. Duck Stamp Art
Submissions Due
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Daylight Saving
Time begins
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
All other States St. Patrick’s Day
Jr. Duck Stamp Art
Submissions Due
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
World Water Day
28 29 30 31
Palm Sunday
PassoverU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Greater White-fronted goose
(Anser albifrons)
State Best of Show
Artist: Daniel Schumacher, Age: 17, State: ND, Medium: Acrylic
Species Information
Average length: 25.2-31.9 inches
Average weight: 4.3 lbs
The Greater White-fronted Goose is a
stocky brown goose that occurs across
the Northern Hemisphere and in North
America is found mainly west of the Mis-
sissippi. It sports white feathers around
its pinkish orange bill, orange legs, and
a white line down its side. These geese
breed in arctic tundra and winter in large
flocks in wetlands, lakes, and croplands.
They can be confused with Graylag
Geese, an often-domesticated species that
can occur in small numbers around farms
and parks in North America. The best
time to go looking for a Greater White-
fronted Goose over much of the United
States and Canada is during migration.
From February through May and again
from September through November look
for Greater White-fronted Geese foraging
in agricultural fields or resting on lakes
and ponds. The winter months in Califor-
nia, Texas, and Louisiana are also good.
They hang out in groups often with Snow
and Canada Geese, where their brown
plumage and medium size should help
separate them. They are a little more
skittish than other waterfowl; at wildlife
refuges it’s often possible to get close to
them as long as you drive slowly and stay
in the car.
APRIL 2021
MARCH 2021 MAY 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 1
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Easter
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Ramadan
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Earth Day
25 26 27 28 29 30
Arbor DayU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Common Goldeneye
(Bucephala clangula)
State Best of Show
Artist: London Peterson, Age: 15, State: OK, Medium: Acrylic, Airbrush
Species Information
Average length: 15.8-20.1 inches
Average weight: 1.33 lbs.
The male Common Goldeneye adds a
bright note to winter days with its radi-
ant amber eye, glistening green-black
head, and crisp black-and-white body
and wings. The female has a chocolate
brown head with the same bright eye
that gives this species its name. These
distinctively shaped, large-headed ducks
dive for their food, eating mostly aquatic
invertebrates and fish. They nest in tree
cavities in the boreal forest of Canada
and Alaska; look for them on large riv-
ers, lakes, and Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf
coasts in winter. Common Goldeneyes
breed in the boreal forest, so winter is
the best time for most people in North
America to see them. Look for them in
flocks on fairly large bodies of water.
Most goldeneyes winter on protected
coastal waters, but you can still find
them fairly readily on inland lakes as
well. In fall they are late migrants, often
coming through just as lakes are freez-
ing. Look for their distinctively shaped
heads and the bright yellow eye that is
visible from a surprisingly long way off.
The birds may abruptly disappear as
they dive for food, but keep your eye on
them as they tend to surface after about
a minute or so.
APRIL 2021 JUNE 2021
MAY 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
4 5 6 7 3 9 10 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
25 26 27 28 29 30 27 28 29 30
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Orthodox Easter
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
Memorial DayU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Steller’s Eider
(Polysticta stelleri)
State Best of Show
Artist: Joyce Chen, Age: 15, State: OR, Medium: Oil
Species Information
Average length: 17 inches
Average weight: 1.9 lbs
The smallest and fastest flying of the
four North American species, Steller’s
Eiders were named for Georg Wilhelm
Steller, a naturalist and explorer who
described several species of animals
from his explorations of Alaska in 1741.
Breeding male Steller’s Eiders are
multi-colored. They have a white head
with a pale green lore, black spot sur-
rounding their eyes, another black spot
on the nape of their neck and a gray bill.
Their chestnut colored breast and belly
is darker at the middle and has a black
spot on the side of their chest in front
of their wing. White extends from their
neck to their flanks with a black collar
and back. Iridescent blue on their throat
may also look black in some lights.
Females are dark brown with a pale eye
ring, gray bill and broad white borders
on the speculum. Steller’s Eiders breed
in freshwater tundra ponds and winter
in shallow marine waters. They are
rarely seen outside of Alaskan waters.
Large wintering flocks dive synchro-
nously.
MAY 2021 JULY 2021
JUNE 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
World Oceans Day
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Pollinator Week
27 28 29 30U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Emperor goose
(Anser canagicus)
State Best of Show
Artist: Kaia Bennett, Age: 14, State: RI, Medium: Acrylic
Species Information
Average length: 26.0-27.9 inches
Average weight: 6.2 lbs.
The beautiful Emperor Goose is a small,
scarce goose of Alaska. It’s intricately
patterned in blue-gray and black, set
off by a regal white crown and bright-
orange legs. Emperor Geese are birds
of rocky beaches and brackish wetlands,
where they feed on mussels, barnacles,
eelgrass, and sea lettuce. Most of the
population nests in the Yukon-Kuskok-
wim Delta, with some nesting in east-
ern Russia. Their numbers seem to be
recovering from a low in the late 20th
century, but Emperor Geese remain
on the Yellow Watch List. To be sure of
seeing Emperor Geese you’ll need to go
to Alaska. Look for them in winter and
early spring (April) on Kodiak Island,
or visit Nome and explore east of the
city, where they gather in large flocks of
geese in Safety Sound in May. Gambell,
on St. Lawrence Island, is a good place
to watch for migrants flying by.
JUNE 2021 AUGUST 2021
JULY 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
27 28 29 30 29 30 31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Independence Day
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Eid al-Adha
25 26 27 28 29 30 31U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Canada goose
(Branta canadensis)
State Best of Show
Artist: Chuxian Feng, Age: 17, State: MA, Medium: Colored pencil
Species Information
The Canada Goose is the most widely
distributed goose in North America,
with many variations in color and size
among subspecies. All subspecies have
black heads and necks with broad, white
cheek patches extending from the throat
to the rear of the eye. The breast,
abdomen and flanks range in color
from light gray to dark chocolate
brown, blending into the black neck
or separated from it by a white collar.
Their backs are darker brown, and the
tail is blackish-brown with a U-shaped
white band on the rump. The bill, legs
and feet are black. Canada Geese nest
across inland North America exhibit
very strong family andpair bonds, and
tend to return to their natal homes to
nest. Canada geese are herbivorous,
feeding on grasses, sedges, waste
grain and berries. The giant Canada
Goose subspecies is the largest, with
some individuals weighing more han 20
pounds.
JULY 2021 SEPTEMBER 2021
AUGUST 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3
1 2 3 4
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
King Eider
(Somateria spectabilis)
State Best of Show
Artist: Thomas Phillips, Age: 17, State: WV, Medium: Pen and ink pontillism
Species Information
Average length: 18.5-25.2 inches
Average weight: 2.65 lbs.
Among the waterfowl of the world, none
is more ornately adorned than the male
King Eider, its black-and-white plum-
age accented by a red-and-orange bill,
pearl-blue crown, and spring-green
cheek. Females are a rich marbling of
rusty brown and black. King Eiders nest
in tundra of the far north and winter
largely at the edge of sea ice, foraging
on shellfish. Their return to breeding
areas in spring is spectacular: vast flocks
pass by northern Alaska, a jaw-dropping
phenomenon if you can get there to see
it. If you can’t get to the high Arctic to
see King Eiders in summer, look for
them along rocky coasts in winter. Small
numbers get as far south as southern
Alaska, New England, and occasionally
the Great Lakes. Finding one usually
requires patient scanning through large
flocks of Common Eiders (in the North-
east) or flocks of other sea ducks (in
the Great Lakes). Be sure to study the
subtle but noticeable differences be-
tween female Common and King Eiders
to make sure you don’t miss one.
AUGUST 2021 OCTOBER 2021
SEPTEMBER 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Labor Day Rosh Hashana
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Yom Kippur
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30
World Rivers DayU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Green-winged Teal
(Anas crecca)
State Best of Show
Artist: Eden Meidl, Age: 18, State: WI, Medium: Watercolor
Species Information
Average length: 12.2-15.3 inch5
Average weight: 0.3 lbs.
The little Green-winged Teal is the small-
est dabbling duck in North America.
The natty male has a cinnamon-colored
head with a gleaming green crescent that
extends from the eye to the back of the
head. In flight, both sexes flash deep-green
wing patches (specula). Look for them on
shallow ponds and in flooded fields, and
listen for the male’s decidedly non-duck-
like whistle. These common ducks breed
along northern rivers; wintering flocks can
number as many as 50,000. A good time to
look for Green-winged Teal across most
of the continent is during spring and fall
migration, when the birds land in shal-
low wetlands, sometimes foraging in little
more than puddles in flooded agricultural
fields. They occur with other species of
dabbling ducks, but they’ll stand out if you
pay attention to their size and shape. Even
the fairly uniform brown females are dis-
tinctive by silhouette: small and compact,
sitting high in the water, with a fairly small
bill. A small brown duck near a group of
larger dabblers is probably not a young
Mallard—and it could be a female Green-
winged Teal. Look for the buffy yellow
stripe along the tail for extra confirmation.
SEPTEMBER 2021 NOVEMBER 2021
OCTOBER 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
National Wildlife Columbus Day
Refuge Week
begins
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
HalloweenU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Redhead
(Aythya americana)
State Best of Show
Artist: Megan Cotter, Age: 17, State: WY, Medium: Colored pencil
Species Information
Average length: 16.5-21.3 inches
Average weight: 1.4 lbs.
With a gleaming cinnamon head set-
ting off a body marked in black and
business gray, adult male Redheads
light up the open water of lakes and
coastlines. These sociable ducks molt,
migrate, and winter in sometimes-huge
flocks, particularly along the Gulf Coast,
where winter numbers can reach the
thousands. Summers find them nest-
ing in reedy ponds of the Great Plains
and West. Female and young Redheads
are uniform brown, with the same
black-tipped, blue-gray bill as the male.
In summer, your best bet for finding
Redheads is to head to the pond-studded
“prairie pothole” grasslands of the Great
Plains. Much of the rest of the U.S. gets
their chance to find them during migra-
tion and winter. Migrating Redheads
stop over on medium to large reservoirs
and lakes. In winter look for them often
in shallow waters of the Gulf Coast as
well as in the Great Lakes.
OCTOBER 2021 DECEMBER 2021
NOVEMBER 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 1 2 3 4
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 31
31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 6
Election Day
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Veteran’s Day
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Thanksgiving
28 29 30
Chanukah/Hanukkah
AU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
American Wigeon
(Mareca Americana)
State Best of Show
Artist: Grace He, Age: 15, State: AL, Medium: Acrylic
Species Information
Average length: 16.5-23.2 inches
Average weight: 1.2 lbs.
Quiet lakes and wetlands come alive
with the breezy whistle of the American
Wigeon, a dabbling duck with pizzazz.
Breeding males have a green eye patch
and a conspicuous white crown, earning
them the nickname “baldpate.” Females
are brushed in warm browns with a
gray-brown head and a smudge around
the eye. Noisy groups congregate dur-
ing fall and winter, plucking plants with
their short gooselike bill from wetlands
and fields or nibbling plants from the
water’s surface. Despite being common
their populations are declining. The best
time to see American Wigeons in the
Lower 48 is from August through April.
During these months check wetlands,
ponds, and nearby agricultural fields
and listen for their unique nasal whistle,
which is often the first clue that they
are around. From a distance the male’s
gleaming white forehead and white
rump sides are sure to grab your atten-
tion. American Wigeons flush easily if
disturbed, so watch from a distance to
get the best looks. During hunting sea-
son, they tend to be even more wary and
may shift to feeding in fields at night
and larger, safer lakes and ponds with
vegetative cover during the day.
NOVEMBER 2021 JANUARY 2022
DECEMBER 2021
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 1
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
H
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Christmas Day
26 27 28 29 30 31
Kwanzaa New Year’s EveU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Program
Conservation Through the Arts
JANUARY 2022 FEBRUARY 2022
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 1 2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28
30 31
MARCH 2022 APRIL 2022
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 4 5 1 2
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30The Junior Duck Stamp Program is made possible due to the hard work and dedication of the State and Regional Coordinators who lead wetland and waterfowl conservation activities and run the state contests. Educators, partners, and parents invest in the conservation and art education of our youth by providing opportunities and encouragement to our students. Thank you all for your contribution to conservation through the arts! These are just an example of the amazing talents of K-12th grade students. For information on the program, more art from our students, and to discover how you can support the Junior Duck Stamp Program, visit: https://www.fws.gov/birds/education/junior-duck-stamp-conservation-program.php Item FW 6005 To order call: 303-236-7639/7642
You can also read
