The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Ducks Unlimited Works To Preserve Waterfowl Habitat

by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher/Owner

April 17, 2013

Not being a hunter, you don't think much about organizations that have to do with ducks until I became curious this Monday, and decided to go to the Ducks Unlimited Banquet and see why this is such a big event at "The Pink" in Lomax.

I quickly learned that these folks are very passionate about making sure wildlife has a place to live.

Flying over Henderson County a couple weeks ago, it was easy for me to see that our forest and trees are dimishing and if it weren't for Ducks Unlimited and organizations such as these, we may be seeing our deer or ducks along the road holding a sign that reads "Homeless"!

According to Ducks Unlimited, Illinois has 27,887 members and has conserved 45,545 acres in Illinois! In their grassroots efforts last year, they raised $2,852.096.

DU protects land through several means including acquisitions, conservation easements and revolving lands strategy.

Land protection is a critical tool by which Ducks Unlimited conserves waterfowl habitat throughout North America.

Since 1937, DU has conserved more than 13 million acres of waterfowl habitat across North America. While DU works in all 50 states, the organization focuses its efforts and resources on the habitats most beneficial to waterfowl.

Each fall, millions of waterfowl migrate south to warmer regions in search of food and habitat. DU works to help preserve these such as the Mississippi flyways for breeding and wintering areas.

During 2005, working with a variety of partners, DU's Illinois conservation program restored and enhanced 2,752 acres of wetlands and adjacent habitat. Steve Isaacson and Chris Doran are to be commended for carrying on the work of Harold Ravenscraft in the Lomax Chapter.