-Skipper Dickson. Ducks Unlimited Solid Ground 9

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1 donors make a difference

2 rescuing the duck factory For brothers Skipper and Paul Dickson, family is the tie that binds. Well, family and waterfowling. They grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, an area known for waterfowl hunting and blessed with endless outdoor opportunities. Their many mornings in the blind as youths have carried over into adulthood. They both earned degrees in biology. They work together in the family business, Morris & Dickson Company, LLC. They share a blind together on cool fall mornings and they give to support their passion: waterfowling. Through Ducks Unlimited s Rescue the Duck Factory campaign, the Dickson brothers found a campaign that was geared toward conserving their way of life.

3 Seeing how so many waterfowl depend on such a small area for production, and learning how those small areas are under pressure, we felt it was time to do our part. -Skipper Dickson My first experience outdoors was with waterfowl and waterfowl hunting, Skipper Dickson explains. Now that I have gotten older, I feel that I am truly going back to my roots as a hunter and, most importantly, a conservationist. Rescue the Duck Factory is a campaign to save the highest priority breeding grounds in the Prairie Pothole Region of North and South Dakota, an area called the Duck Factory by waterfowl biologists because of its propensity to produce at least 40 percent of North America s waterfowl population. Launched in 2008 under the banner of Wetlands for Tomorrow, the campaign has a primary goal of permanently protecting pristine prairie grasslands from destruction by securing conservation easements from willing landowners. The once-endless sea of grass that makes up the Prairie Pothole Region has become a top priority for Ducks Unlimited, because DU scientists, staff members and volunteers all understand the endless part of that description no longer holds true for the region. Created by glacial movement more than 10,000 years ago, this ecosystem that has sustained everything from North America s biggest game animals to the smallest songbirds is vanishing. We were fortunate enough to attend Ducks University at the Coteau Ranch a few years back, and that was an eye-opening experience, Skipper explains. Seeing how so many waterfowl depend on such a small area for production, and learning how those small areas are under pressure, we felt it was time to do our part. Rescue the Duck Factory (RDF) is the brainchild of John Childs, president of Wetlands America Trust the fiduciary and land management arm of Ducks Unlimited. Last year, Childs rallied DU supporters to carry the weight of RDF financially. Strategically searching for funding to conserve these critical acres, DU teamed up with individuals, foundations and corporate partners. Stepping up to the plate for the future of waterfowl populations has been tough with an unstable economy, but many have answered the call, putting their waterfowl hunting heritage and the benefit to waterfowl populations high on the priority list. Once lost, you ll never get this place back, Childs says. If you like duck hunting, you really need to join this effort now because of all the pressures the Duck Factory faces. Childs enthusiasm grows with the campaign as more and more acreage becomes available for protection. While the economy, row-crop prices, loss of Conservation Reserve Program funding and developmental pressures force landowners to plow native prairie, these same pressures have landowners looking for ways to conserve. DU s perpetual easement program is providing them with that option. By partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), DU can acquire easements and FWS will handle the perpetual monitoring and management with landowners. Together, FWS and DU have protected 1 million acres, but there is more to protect. With a goal of raising $40 million to secure these easements, the Rescue the Duck Factory campaign is making a big difference on the landscape. We have placed these easements on more than 67,000 wetland and grassland acres, Childs explains. We still have opportunities to make a difference and farmers are willing to participate; the funding just needs to be available. The Dicksons stressed that what they witnessed on their trips to the Dakotas inspired them to take a more active role in conserving their hunting heritage. Last year, they revisited the prairies and what a difference a year had made. We watched rocks being pulled from native prairie as it was being prepared for cultivation, Paul said. The region where our ducks come from, the ducks we shoot in Louisiana, was being lost; we re losing their breeding grounds. This is a serious situation for a family that is tied together by waterfowl hunting. We knew that supporting DU and this campaign would be a step toward conserving these areas so that our kids and grandkids would still be able to enjoy waterfowling in Louisiana. The reality that North America s waterfowl populations are facing the loss of crucial breeding habitat can strike a chord, and it did with the Dicksons. Their biology background and more than 30 years of experience with DU s efforts put Ducks Unlimited Solid Ground 9

4 We knew that supporting DU and this campaign would be a step toward conserving these areas so that our kids and grandkids would still be able to enjoy waterfowling in Louisiana. -Paul Dickson them face-to-face with this reality. Understanding DU s science-based decision making and seeing the organization s on-the-ground efforts in the Duck Factory made their philanthropic decision even easier. Listening to DU biologists explain the effects the loss of native prairie can have on waterfowl numbers, the Dicksons were convinced. I was impressed with DU s science. The fact that they acknowledged the issue and worked hard to find a solution was important for us, Paul explains. Skipper and I talked about this a lot, at work, in the duck blind and every chance we got. After making their decision to personally support the campaign, Skipper took an additional step to recruit the outdoor industry. As the president of SportsSouth, a gun and ammo wholesaler, he has strong connections with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). He approached NSSF about the work DU is doing to secure the future of waterfowl hunting and shooting sports, a prime component of NSSF s mission. For me, RDF was a bull s-eye as a result of good science, Skipper says, his voice cracking with enthusiasm. We understood, and I tell people today, that wetlands in Louisiana are worthless if the ducks don t have suitable breeding habitat up there [the Duck Factory]. This is the same thing I explained to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, telling them this is a great opportunity to preserve a shooting sport. NSSF realized the critical nature of what DU was trying to accomplish and the significant impact this campaign would have on waterfowl populations, and they jumped on board. With education and encouragement from Skipper, NSSF made a gift of $285,200 to Rescue the Duck Factory. The foundation s gift will not only protect this great habitat but will also benefit all shooting sportsmen and women. NSSF s mission is to promote, protect and preserve the hunting and shooting sports. It seems obvious, but in order to protect hunting, there must be abundant numbers of thriving game species, and Ducks Unlimited has been at the forefront of such efforts, explains Steve Sanetti, president and CEO of NSSF. When we learned of this most worthwhile effort to rescue the Duck Factory, we gladly and immediately jumped in. Ever since the 1930s and the enactment of the Pittman-Robertson excise tax on firearms and ammunition for the preservation of wildlife habitat, our industry has stepped up and paid for conservation efforts to protect a variety of species, both game and nongame, which share productive habitat, Sanetti said. It is vital that such efforts continue so that future generations of shooters and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy abundant game to hunt and utilize viable areas to enjoy our sports. Every fall, the northern winds rattle the high grasses of the Prairie Pothole Region signaling the start of the migration. Waterfowl that spread their wings for the first time in North Dakota in spring may end up buzzing a Louisiana duck blind in winter, and inside that blind will sit Skipper and Paul Dickson, patiently awaiting the arrival of birds with family and friends. While they wait, they discuss their philanthropic decision to make a difference for the future a decision that is helping ensure their hunting heritage by rescuing the U.S. Duck Factory. The Prairie Pothole Region is composed of thousands of pothole wetlands created during glacial movement more than 10,000 years ago. These wetlands and their surrounding grasslands are the breeding grounds for millions of ducks and geese. DU and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service team up to buy easements to protect the breeding grounds in perpetuity. DU launched Rescue the Duck Factory (RDF) last year to save this ecosystem from destruction by placing conservation easements on the property of willing landowners. We have conserved more than 67,000 acres since RDF was launched. We must do more. 10 Ducks Unlimited Solid Ground

5 Habitat programs delivered by DU and its partners on the Prairie Pothole Region are among the most extensive on the continent. Programs include perpetual protection of native habitats through easements or ownership, conversion of land use to functions more favorable to wildlife, and stewardship programs.

6 pintails and policy work Paul Bonderson Jr. grew up with the unmistakable whistle of pintails ingrained in his mind. Waterfowl hunting in Northern California with his father, Paul spent mornings listening to and watching ducks and geese work their way south through the Central Valley. His love for waterfowl has blossomed into a passion for conserving the habitat to support North America s waterfowl populations, especially the Northern Pintail.

7 By supporting the pintail conservation initiative, DU has Been able to put habitat back into traditional areas that support not only fall-migrating birds, but spring migration as well. -Paul Bonderson Jr. Pintails used to be the bird of choice and the most abundant bird around here before their decline, says Bonderson, a Diamond Legacy Sponsor and the chairman of Ducks Unlimited s Conservation Programs Committee. There have been so many pressures on these birds that we felt giving something back to the Pintail Initiative was important. Paul and his wife, Sandi, who live in Sunol, California, are both outdoors-oriented people who chose to support DU s Pintail Conservation Initiative philanthropically. This initiative targets crucial breeding and migration habitat for pintail populations throughout North America. The Bondersons have seen firsthand what rejuvenated habitat can do for waterfowl populations. Paul converted a majority of the agricultural fields on his 2,500-acre property into natural wetlands and the birds response has been tremendous. We saw how the birds benefited from the small piece of habitat we constructed, and we wanted to allow DU to use our money in other areas to get the same result, Paul says. By supporting the Pintail Conservation Initiative, DU has been able to put habitat back into traditional areas that support not only fall-migrating birds, but spring migration as well. We know that fat, happy ducks produce the most eggs, and that s why we chose this initiative for our gift. Everyone thinks about properties for fall migration; I guess we chose some of the orphan projects ducks frequent in spring. Historically, more than 10 million breeding pintails returned to the Prairie Pothole Region and Canada s western boreal forest every spring. Now, they number fewer than 4 million. Recently, DU completed a four-year study to find out why pintail numbers had fallen drastically. The answer? Habitat. The type of habitat the Bondersons supported financially is giving pintail populations a chance to bounce back. While the target species for this conservation work is pintails, all waterfowl, shorebirds and wildlife are receiving the long-term benefits of additional habitat. As this initiative improves the landscape in noticeable ways, the Bondersons understand that the work being done behind the scenes can have even greater, longer-lasting effects on habitat. DU s efforts to ensure wildlife-friendly public policy by working with state and federal lawmakers are of the utmost importance. With the stroke of a pen, legislators can drastically change the landscape for waterfowl and wildlife conservation, Paul explains. We can get more done through our policy work than we can through anything right now. DU staff in our Washington, D.C., office and across the nation engage lawmakers and their staff members concerning policy issues such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Clean Water Restoration Act, climate change and every piece of legislation that can impact waterfowl populations. Providing objective, science-based input to legislators and other policymakers is crucial to helping them understand how their decisions will affect waterfowl populations and other wildlife. This kind of work has come to be one of DU s greatest strengths, says Dr. Scott Yaich, DU s director of conservation operations. We are often able to contribute to the conservation of more habitat and do more for waterfowl through our policy work. DU s policy work in state capitals and in Washington, D.C., makes a difference every day, and combining those efforts with on-the-ground capabilities such as the Pintail Conservation Initiative, the organization is continuing to lead the world in wetlands conservation. Crucial generous funding from committed supporters like Paul and Sandi is fueling the organization and helping make a difference for waterfowl populations throughout the continent, Yaich explains. Paul spends quite a bit of time hunting every fall on his California ranch. Every time he hears the distinct whistle of pintails overhead, he is reminded that his family s conservation efforts, what he has learned from his father, what he has passed to his children and what they will hopefully one day pass to his grandchildren are all about making a difference for the future through conservation. Ducks Unlimited Solid Ground 13

8 insuring the future of waterfowl Insurance is all about planning and preparation preparing for the unexpected. Dauane Briggs, a Salina, Kansas, resident, understands insurance because he is an insurance and financial services consultant. Briggs works with clients every day to help them protect the things that mean the most to them, and he knows good advice when he gives it.

9 DU s work doesn t just benefit waterfowl, it helps the natural resource...by working with DU, our family and so many other people, waterfowl and wildlife would ultimately benefit. -Dauane Briggs It s all about planning and I explain that to clients all the time, Briggs says. Once I made sure that my family was going to be taken care of if anything happened to me, I looked at what else I wanted to be a part of my legacy and I found Ducks Unlimited. The Briggs family has been involved with DU for quite some time, but at the age of 40, Dauane felt the pull to secure his legacy. For most people, 40 is early to plan for their passing. Dauane believes in early planning. He says it is best for people to plan early because we don t know if we ll have that opportunity later. After making a commitment to become Life Sponsors, Dauane and wife, Laura, joined the Feather Society by agreeing to leave a portion of their estate to Ducks Unlimited. Their Diamond Feather Society commitment is also unrestricted a provision that allows DU to use the dollars where the need is greatest. Unrestricted gifts like the one from Dauane and Laura are the most beneficial to DU because we work in a changing landscape, explains Jon Rich, DU national director of gift planning. This is important for people to understand when they are planning to leave their legacy. Restricting your gift could mean that the greatest future need for waterfowl your passion is not met. Making your gift unrestricted allows the investment to have the greatest impact possible on the landscape. The Feather Society honors those who make provisions for DU in their wills, trusts, life insurance or retirement plans or make gifts of land/real estate or charitable gift annuities. These gifts are placed into an endowment fund, where the generated income fuels the conservation mission for the world s leader in wetland and associated habitat conservation. A leader among all conservation groups, DU has evolved since 1937 and will continue to do so in an effort to efficiently and effectively conserve habitat. The Feather Society is just one of the tools DU uses to benefit wetland and waterfowl populations in North America, but it is an extremely effective one. Rich tells a story about one member who said he was raising DU to family status by placing the organization in his will. There is no greater honor for an organization than having someone consider us as family, Rich says. It makes my job all the more rewarding when I can do something for the ducks and help our members ensure their conservation legacy. When Briggs talks about his decision to include DU in his financial plans, his passion for wetlands and waterfowl is apparent. He mentions a time when he and a friend visited a wetland last spring as waterfowl were heading north to the breeding grounds. They weren t hunting, just spending time in the wetland environment, taking pictures and watching the birds buzz in and out of the wetlands. Having the opportunity to observe the natural wetland ecosystem and knowing that his daughter and, one day, his grandchildren will have the same opportunity because of DU s efforts and his decision to contribute to those efforts he knows he made the right decision. DU s work doesn t just benefit waterfowl; it helps the natural resource, Briggs says. Laura and I considered several organizations, but asked ourselves, Who could really benefit from this if something happened? and the answer was clear by working with DU, our family and so many other people, waterfowl and wildlife would ultimately benefit. Gift planning is not just for older people. 15% of all deferred gifts DU recieves are made by people age 45 or younger. 43% of bequests and 35% of remainder trusts are created by people who are age 55 or younger. Call to learn about a vast array of giving options to benefit your family and Ducks Unlimited. Ducks Unlimited Solid Ground 15

10 fueling migration and memories From Rocky Mountain peaks, snowmelt flows east turning into the most important water source and wildlife habitat in the central flyway: the Platte River. This habitat, which once supported millions of American bison and tens of millions of migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, is slowly drying up. The Platte River and the surrounding wetlands are vanishing much like the bison that once grazed along its banks. Sue and Jim Stuart Jr. of Lincoln, Nebraska, recognize the Platte s significance to waterfowl, wildlife and their waterfowling passion. they have joined with Ducks Unlimited to help save a historical and ecologically threatened watershed.

11 DU has a clear objective and has never moved or wobbled on what they are doing for habitat, especially in this region. They are focused and working to perpetuate a wonderful sport and the habitat that supports it. - Jim Stuart Jr. The Platte River winds its way 310 miles through Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska, draining a large portion of the central Great Plains and eastern Rocky Mountains. It is a braided river with a system of channels and tributaries that begins with snowmelt in the mountains and eventually flows across the arid Great Plains and into the Missouri River. Along the way, the Platte sustains critical wetlands that provide migration and breeding habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. It splits into two rivers, the North and South Platte, supplying water for millions of people and agriculture. As increasing demands are placed on this crucial river system and migration habitat, the Platte is fading and the entire ecosystem faces collapse. Having spent his youth along this river, Stuart has seen the sun rise many times along the banks of the Platte. He has witnessed the sky change from smoky gray to the pinks and vivid yellows of sunrise, and his memories take him back to mornings when the sun s first light exploded across the landscape, frost-covered cattails shimmered in the breeze and the flutter of wings was the first noise to punctuate the silent darkness. Wing beats and duck calls are what bring the Platte to life every morning for Stuart, and when he closes his eyes, he can envision every morning he has spent along the river s edge. The sights and sounds of thousands of sandhill cranes preparing to leave the Platte River and Rainwater Basin are revisited in his mind. It s a truly magnificent place, Stuart explains as he recalls the long flights of geese and sandhill cranes stretching across the horizon. It s even better in the spring, and for many waterfowl and shorebirds, this is their last stop before the breeding grounds. Providing important nutrients for migrating birds, the Platte River also feeds Jim and Sue s conservation passion. They see giving to DU for the Platte River and Nebraska s Rainwater Basin as an opportunity to save a resource that has provided so much to them. There s nothing quite like decoying ducks and geese on the Platte, Jim said. I now have the capacity to give something back by working with Ducks Unlimited, their professional staff and a list of motivated volunteers. There is clear focus on doing something great for this habitat. Stuart served as a commissioner and chairman of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. He has grown up, lived and worked along the Platte River and the famous Rainwater Basin, another continentally important wetland area in south-central Nebraska. He sees how DU s on-theground efforts are making a difference along the Platte and in the Rainwater Basin. As a waterfowl hunter and conservationist, Stuart knows there is still work to be done. We are trying to protect the remaining 20 percent of wetlands within the Rainwater Basin and restore much of what has disappeared due to development and agricultural conversion practices, said Steve Donovan, DU manager of conservation programs in Nebraska. The Platte s issues are much more extreme because the entire watershed has been dramatically changed, decreasing river flows and causing invasive species to choke out the natural riverine wetlands. The Platte River has lost more than 70 percent of its historic spring flows due to irrigation, development and a diminishing water supply facing high demand. The Rainwater Basin has lost 80 percent of its original wetland acreage. Waterfowl biologists refer to this region as the neck of the hourglass because of the great numbers of waterfowl that migrate through here during the spring migration, Donovan explains. We are working to put conservation easements on remaining wetlands and utilizing the revolving land acquisition program to conserve and restore this habitat. For many, DU s Platte River Initiative is an all-out effort to conserve waterfowl migration habitat, yet for the Stuarts there s so much more to the story. For them, it s where their outdoor passions were born, where they ve shared memories with family and friends and where they hope future generations will fall in love with waterfowl, wildlife and waterfowl hunting. DU has a clear objective and has never moved or wobbled on what they are doing for habitat, especially in this region, Jim said. They are focused and working to perpetuate a wonderful sport and the habitat that supports it. That s why we have chosen to make our contribution to this organization and the work being done to protect this place. Ducks Unlimited Solid Ground 17

12 circles of influence When Jim Pike joined the Ducks Unlimited board of directors in 2004, it was a natural extension of his 40-plus years of membership in the organization. Pike explains that in the 1960s he began to see the benefits of conservation. He also witnessed the disappearance of wetlands throughout the United States and the resulting impacts on waterfowl populations. As an avid hunter, he knew it was up to sportsmen and women to revitalize this habitat.

13 i think it is hard for people to understand that what du does benefits everyone. wetlands are not only beneficial to waterfowl and other wildlife, but they are also filtering our water and acting as a sponge to prevent floods. - Jim Pike It is these images of disappearing habitat that motivate his conservation efforts today and helped him secure a wonderful new corporate partnership for Ducks Unlimited. At the 2009 National Convention in Denver, the Remington Outdoor Foundation (ROF) announced a gift of $1 million for habitat restoration and conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), one of the highest priority regions for breeding waterfowl in North America. Pike sits on the board of the foundation and is a managing director for Cerberus, the parent company of Remington. From the Remington Outdoor Foundation founders perspectives, our conservation focus was entirely on Ducks Unlimited, Pike says. We all saw the value in working with Ducks Unlimited, and ROF and DU have the same ideas for the future of waterfowling and educating our youth. When you talk with Jim, his big heart for waterfowl and the land beams brightly. When you talk business, his executive experience leading multiple companies kicks him into another gear, says Philip Milburn, DU s director of marketing and corporate relations. In this case, he knew how to bring the right people and right ideas to the table. It was Pike s personal experience with both organizations that led to the partnership for habitat work in the PPR. He grew up waterfowl hunting with his father and has passed on his passion for hunting to his son. Pike joined DU in 1966 and introduced his father to the organization as his conservation commitment increased. Jim loves to reflect on the history of the organization, but his forward thinking is progressive, Milburn says. He is one of those corporate leaders who understands and acts on the link between conservation and business, and he did this far before the corporate sustainability jargon became fashionable in corporate circles. I saw the value in an organization that was working to enhance, conserve and preserve wetland and associated habitat, Pike says. As I grew older, I saw habitat disappear and wanted to be a part of the solution. Not only through my personal life, but also with ROF, the philanthropic decisions that have been made will have a lasting impact. The collaboration of the two organizations has led to the perpetual protection of crucial acreage in the PPR. These relationships, secured from within, are the key to DU s status as the world s leader in wetland conservation. Every company has its own reasons for supporting DU, but ROF knows that it is doing something to protect the longevity of waterfowl hunting while also protecting Remington, the manufacturer of one of the most widely used waterfowling firearms in history the 870 pump shotgun. It s truly a working relationship that flows both ways, Pike says. This is also a growing relationship, and this first donation from ROF shows that the shooting industry is prepared to look at conservation. Firearms manufacturers need to be supporting DU; it s a benefit for everyone. The importance of DU s corporate partners goes beyond acreage and waterfowl counts it can be a mutually beneficial bridge between industry and conservation. DU s value proposition for a wide range of product and service sectors is difficult to match. Our outstanding corporate partners can attest to that, as well as their countless mutually beneficial cause-marketing accomplishments with DU, Milburn says. Our challenge is to awaken more companies to what DU offers them, their customers and the communities in which they operate. Leaders like Jim just get it. Jim Pike has spent the better part of his life dedicated to conservation. He understands that much of what he is doing now with ROF and DU will affect everything from clean water to more abundant waterfowl and wildlife populations in North America. I think it is hard for people to understand that what DU does benefits everyone, Pike says. Wetlands are not only beneficial to waterfowl and other wildlife, but they are also filtering our water and acting as a sponge to prevent floods. The recreational benefits are great, but everyone is benefitting from the relationship between ROF and DU. I hope other corporations see this and step forward to help. Ducks Unlimited Solid Ground 19