provided to The Santiva Chronicle

Black’s portrait of a northern pintail took top honors in the contest held last September in Des Moines, Iowa.

Each year, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service selects a winning duck stamp for the following year from some 200 contestants. The winning duck stamp artist becomes somewhat of a celebrity, and J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island has the honor of hosting an appearance by the winner each year. The 2024-2025 winner, Chuck Black from Montana, was scheduled to appear on October 24, but because of Wildlife Drive closure following Hurricane Milton, his “Ding” visit has been postponed. Stay tuned for updates

“Chuck’s winning portrait of a northern pintail is stunning,” said DDWS Executive Director Ann-Marie Wildman, a former art gallery owner. “We look forward to welcoming such a talented and promising artist to the refuge at a later date as part of a long tradition that honors our namesake, who designed the first duck stamp in 1934.”

For more information about the Federal Duck Stamp presentation, contact Wildman at wildman@dingdarlingsociety.org.

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