The birds are the 42 species of North American ducks, geese, and swans. A painting of one is chosen each year for the Federal Duck Stamp Program.
Duck stamps are a powerful conservation tool.
Since that time, the cumulative half billion dollars collected from the stamps has helped preserve more than 5 million acres of wetlands. Duck stamps can be purchased from a state's wildlife department and are a required license for all duck hunters. However, many people who have never lifted a gun buy duck stamps because they provide free entry to any of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's more than 500 National Wildlife Refuges. In addition, the benefit to wetland habitat conservation from the purchase of duck stamps cannot be overstated. High-quality printing on glossy paper accentuates the spectacular artwork of the federal duck stamps as well as a variety of other pictures related to waterfowl.