Sonoma Takes to the Birds for Junior Duck Stamp Contest

Each year kids from around the country try their hand at drawing water fowl for the  Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest, a federal contest with a special prize: the winner's art work is commemorated in a special edition U.S. stamp.

For the first time in the contest's history, Sonoma will play host on to California regional-leg of the federal contest, this Friday at the Gardens at Cornerstone.

Over 28,000 students enter the contest each year, since its inception in 2000. Winners are selected by state; the best of them compete nationally to have their duck-art commemorated on a stamp.

"It's the first time in the 21-year history of the event that [the California show] has ever been outside of Sacramento," says Tom Rusert, president of and one of the contest organizers. 

The Junior Duck Stamp program was created in 1989, as an informal way to teach ecology and preservation to school-age children. Since then it's expanded to a national contest, with entrants from all 50 states, the American Samoa and the Virgin Islands, and was recognized by Congress in 1994 with Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act.

The kids, who submitted their artwork in early March, are judged by grade level in four different groups.  Three prize-winners will be awarded to each group, and an overall "Best of Show" award will be awarded to one of the twelve winners, who will then compete in the national contest.

About 2,000 entries from across California will be on view Friday for the regional contest - which area birders see as a monumental learning experience for the youths.

Teachers are encouraged to develop lesson plans dealing with anatomy and ecological preservation alongside the contest. Students are encouraged to incorporate a "message of ecological preservation" in the entries, alongside the duck (identified, of course, by species and habitat).

"It’s not just a bunch of hobbyists: the artwork is breathtaking and the kids get their stamp as a commemorative stamp in all the United States Post Offices," said Rusert.

Junior Duck Stamps are sold for $5 per stamp, with revenues supporting environmental education and awards for JDS participants.The 2010 Junior Duck Stamp is available for purchase at the Cornerstone event or the U.S. Post Office.

Duck Stamp artwork will be on view at Cornerstone Gardens, 23570 Arnold Drive, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday, March 25. Judging announcements will be made after 3 p.m.

The Spring Nature Festival kicks off Saturday, March 26 at Cornerstone, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. with live animals, nature demonstrations, and exhibits from the 2011 Duck Stamp contest. . Sponsored by U.S Department of Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,  the event is themed "Connecting Kids with Nature" and features interactive activities, guest animals from California's National Wildlife Refuges and visits from the JDS winners.