Duck Stamps
Fulvous Whistling Duck painted by Burton Moore. This southern species had never been featured on a Federal Duck Stamp until this 1986 issue. Courtesy of an anonymous lender.
Officially known as “Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps,” Federal Duck Stamps are the longest running series of U. S. stamps. They are also among the largest and most beautiful of stamps, depicting all species of North American ducks, swans and geese.
Duck stamps are revenue stamps, not postage stamps. The first duck stamp was issued in 1934 and cost $1.00. The price has risen over the decades and the stamp has cost $15.00 since 1991. The stamps provide revenue for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase or lease land—valuable waterfowl habitat—for inclusion in the national wildlife refuge system. The Federal Duck Stamp program has protected over 5 million acres of waterfowl habitat since its beginning in 1934 and its success has spawned similar programs at the state and local level.
