Courtesy Photo - The Nevada Waterfowl Association has chosen the American wigeon for this year’s Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest. The stamps must be purchased to hunt migratory birds in the Silver State.
The 2012 Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest is sanctioned by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners (NBWC), with the winning artwork to be featured on the 2012-2013 state stamp.
All interested artists are encouraged to enter the contest, whether they live in Nevada or elsewhere. Entries must be an original creation, in any drawing medium and must be received by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) no later than Oct. 21. Contest rules are available on the NDOW website at www.ndow.org/wild/stamp, or by calling 775-688-1998 for more information.
Entries will be judged by seven individuals, including two members of the NBWC and five others as appointed by the Nevada Waterfowl Association. The names of the top 10 finalists will be announced by NDOW on Nov. 14.
The American wigeon (Anas americana) is a common and widespread duck species. The wigeon nests farther north than any other dabbling duck with the exception of the northern pintail. Their breeding groups include northern Alaska, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. Wigeons typically arrive on wintering grounds first in the fall. Winter migration brings wigeon to Nevada each year. Their wintering grounds include most of the lower latitudes of North America, Central America and even the northern extremes of South America.
The American wigeon is a medium-sized duck; it is larger than a teal, but smaller than a pintail. In silhouette, the wigeon can be distinguished from other dabblers by its round head, short neck and small black-tipped bill. The breeding male (drake) has an iridescent mask of green feathers from its eyes to the back of its head, and a white colored cap running from the crown of its head to its bill. This white patch gives the wigeon its other common name, baldpate (meaning bald headed). Their breast and sides are pinkish-brown with a white underbelly. In flight, wigeons can be identified by the large white shoulder patch on each wing. In non-breeding plumage, the drake looks more like the female.
The American wigeon is a bird of open wetlands, such as wet grassland or marshes with some taller vegetation, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing. Wigeon are notorious for grabbing pieces of vegetation brought to the surface by diving water birds. For this reason, they are sometimes called “poacher” or “robber” ducks.
In Nevada, any person 12 to 64 years old who hunts any migratory bird except mourning or white-winged dove, snipe, coot or moorhen (gallinule) is required to purchase a state duck stamp. Money from the sale of Nevada duck stamps is used for projects approved by the commission for the protection and propagation of migratory game birds, and for the acquisition, development and preservation of wetlands in Nevada.
For more information, visit www.ndow.org.
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