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The idea for Ducks Unlimited was born by the winds that created the Dust
Bowl. Untold acres of wetland habitat vanished in the 1930's, taking with them
the promise of generations of waterfowl. In 1937 a small group of
conservationists who realized that the majority of North America's waterfowl
breed in the Canadian prairies, organized to raise money in the United States
for waterfowl conservation in Canada.
It was the unique idea that became Ducks Unlimited.
"When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to
use it with love and respect." -Aldo Leopold
The Need Continues
The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands, and we
continue to lose over 100,000 wetland acres a year.
Leader in Wetland and Wildlife
Conservation
Ducks Unlimited stands today as a global force in wetlands and wildlife
conservation. DU's conservation programs have evolved and expanded over the
years to address the habitat needs of waterfowl and other wildlife on ever
changing landscapes. Today, DU and our many partners utilize space-age
technology and cutting-edge research to conserve habitat as efficiently and cost
effectively as possible.
Conserving North American Habitats
DU's programs reach from the arctic tundra of Alaska to the tropical
wetlands of Mexico. We are restoring native grasslands in the Great Plains,
restoring bottomland hardwood forests in the Lower Mississippi River Valley,
protecting and enhancing the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and protecting and
improving wetland habitats in the Central Valley of California and the Coastal
Prairies of Texas, just to name a few.
Benefits of Wetland Conservation
- Improved Water Quality
- Wildlife Habitat
- Soil Conservation
- Erosion Control
- Recreation
- Increased Flood Storage
- Groundwater Recharge
- Biodiversity
- Fish Habitat
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1930's
1930- More Game Birds Foundation forms.
1934 First Duck Stamp Issued, Canada's drought peaks.
1935 - First International Wild Duck Census
1936 - First organizational meeting of Ducks Unlimited by founder Joseph
Knapp.
1937 - DU incorporated in Washington, D.C., January 29.
1938 - DU Canada forms, first conservation project Big Grass Marsh, DU
volunteers emerge. |
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1940's
1940 - More Game Birds Foundation turns all
assets over to DU.
1942 - Big Grass project attains full supply lever, greatest waterfowl
population since 1928.
1944 - More ducks reported on praires than in previous 30 years.
1945 - Despite World War II, DU collects $400,000, DU volunteers collect
feathers for military clothes and sleeping bags.
1947 - DU Membership at 25,215, 39 new projects built, grassroots
fundraising spreads over continent.
1949 - Forty new projects built, best construction year to date. |
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1950's
1950 - Total of 307 conservation projects
and 2,561 shoreline miles created.
1952 - Total of 357 conservation projects and 2,903 shoreline miles
created.
1954 - DU Sponsor program started.
1955 - DU passes $5 million mark for expenditures in Canada.
1957 - Biologist Ted Dillon counts 10,000 Redhead ducks on Big Grass
project. |
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1960's
1960 - DU totals 568 conservation projects,
975,500 acres.
1963 - $600,00 approved for Canada.
1965 - DU Headquarters moves from New York to Chicago.
1966 - First million dollar fundraising year, event system takes off
with auctions, raffles, and dinners.
1967 - DU totals 850 conservation projects, 1.5 million acres.
1969 - Engineering milestone: DU moves over 1 million cubic yards of
earth. |
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1970's
1972 - Waterfowl Artist of the Year program
begins.
1973 - DU Greenwing program begins.
1974 - DU Mexico and DU New Zealand form.
1975 - DU raises $8,169,796 for conservation.
1978 - Budweiser joins as partner, becomes "Official Beer of Ducks
Unlimited".
1979 - Total 1,718 conservation projects over 2.8 million acres. |
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1980's
1980 - Drought hits prairies - 98% of DU
projects hold water.
1984 - DU North American Habitat program begins with ground-breaking at
first U.S. project in North Dakota, Landsat 5 satellite launches, Great
Plains Regional Office established.
1985 - Landsat inventories 60 million acres, DU has reserved 3.7 million
acres in Canada, MARSH program starts.
1986 - DU secures MARSH agreements for wetland work in all states, MBNA
partners with DU & becomes Official Credit Card of Ducks Unlimited.
1987 - Winchester Ammunition partners with DU.
1989 - Congress enacts the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). |
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1990's
1990 - Total duck population at 25 million
for the year, DU Southern Regional Office established.
1991 - Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research is established.
1992 - Ducks Unlimited, Inc. moves headquarters to Memphis, Tennessee,
Habitat 2000 implemented-DU's campaign to raise $600 million for
conservation by year 2000.
1996 - Advantage Camo partners with DU & becomes the Official Camouflage
of Ducks Unlimited.
1997 - Pennzoil partners with DU & becomes the Official Motor
Oil of Ducks Unlimited.
1998 - Great Lakes/Ann Arbor Regional Office August dedication, Flambeau
partners with DU & becomes the Official Decoy of Ducks Unlimited. |
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Tuscarora Chapter
Ducks Unlimited #178