Maryland Artist Wins Federal Duck Stamp Competition

First Maryland Artist to Win in 44 Years

Laurel, Md. (August 2, 2010) —Maryland artist Robert Bealle has won the 2010 Federal Duck Stamp Design Contest, the first Marylander to win in 44 years. Bealle, a native of Waldorf, Maryland, and his winning stamp, which features an American widgeon, were honored at a celebration on Saturday, July 31 at the Patuxent Research Refuge National Wildlife Visitor’s Center in Laurel.

“I would like to congratulate Robert on winning this contest, and thank him for bringing this prestigious honor to Maryland,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “This contest is not only an art competition, but also an opportunity to highlight the great work that conservation programs do to support our wildlife.”

Federal Duck Stamps, or Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, serve as hunting licenses and entrance passes for National Wildlife Refuges. The Federal Duck Stamp Program raises approximately $25 million each year to help protect vital wetland habitat in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Federal Duck Stamp Design contest, first held in 1949, is the only federally recognized art competition in the country.

For more information about the Federal Duck Stamp and the Duck Stamp Design Contest, visit http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov