Date: 12/05/06
Contact: John McKay
Phone: (702) 486-5127, ext. 3501
 

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ARTIST WINS 2007 NEVADA STATE DUCK STAMP CONTEST

Nevada’s state duck stamp for 2006-07 will feature a strikingly realistic pair of wood ducks painted by Ken Michaelsen, of McCloud, CA.

Even though the artist won the coveted Federal Stamp Duck Stamp Contest in 1979, Michaelsen said that he considers his Nevada win a “nice coup.” The artist said that winning Nevada’s contest has been one of his goals. The state’s contest is well-known in the art community for having one of the few state competitions open to all artists regardless of residence, and having an unquestionably honest and upright judging session of all entries received.

This was only the second time Michaelsen has entered Nevada’s contest. He previously entered the contest in 1998. The artist has won several state competitions, including his home state of California. In 2005 he won the Louisiana state contest with a beautiful rendition of a hunting dog with pintail ducks.

The 70-year-old artist has been painting and drawing in all mediums for over 45 years. The first part of his career was working as a commercial illustrator for the San Jose Mercury News. In the mid 1970s he decided to work exclusively in wildlife art, specializing in bird species. A sample of his work can be seen on his Web site at www.duckart.com.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife’s (NDOW) state duck stamp art contest was sponsored by the Nevada Waterfowl Association. Under contest rules, all entries were required to feature the wood duck - the designated species for the 2007 contest. A total of 45 paintings from talented artists were received from across the US and Canada. The winning artist does not receive a financial prize, but does maintain full reproduction rights. Limited edition color reproductions are usually printed and sold for an estimated $175.

The wood duck is a conservationist’s success story. Through conservation efforts, including a ban on the hunting of wood ducks from 1918 to 1941, this species was brought back from the brink of extinction. Over-hunting of this species and a loss of its riparian/woodland habitat were some of the factors leading to the wood duck’s near-extinction.

In Nevada, this colorful species continues to become more common, with flocks containing well over 200 birds spotted by biologists every year. Over the past 50-plus years, sportsmen and bird enthusiasts alike have placed numerous wood duck nesting boxes in appropriate locations throughout the birds nesting territory. These nesting boxes have been very successful, and are credited as a major reason these birds have continued to flourish in the Silver State.

Both bird watchers and hunters agree that the drake, or male wood duck, is one of the most beautiful duck species found in North America. Almost every color in the rainbow adorns this species, including chestnut brown accompanied by shades of burgundy on the chest; a brilliant combination of metallic, iridescent shades of greens and blues on their head and body,
to the bright red and yellow colors found on their bills and eyes.

Compared to the male, the female wood duck is a bit drab in color - mostly gray and light brown, with a distinctive white teardrop shaped ring around its eye.

Michaelsen’s painting will be depicted in full color on the state’s 2007-2008 duck stamp. The $10 stamp is required of all who hunt waterfowl in the state. For the first time, waterfowl hunters can purchase their state duck stamp at the beginning of Nevada’s license year, which runs from March 1, 2007 through February 29, 2008. For the convenience of hunters and collectors, the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners voted to change the stamps availability date from late August to coincide with the annual license year. Stamps and licenses are expected to be available in mid to late February 2007.

For further information about Nevada’s duck stamp contest, or to view the top 10 contest entries, visit NDOW’s Web site at www.ndow.org.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org