 |
|
|
************************************************************************** |
E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE E-WIRE PRESS RELEASE |
************************************************************************** |
|
|
JUNIOR DUCK STAMP WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT SAN DIEGO ZOO |
|
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, Apr. 18 -/E-Wire/--
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a pair of nene (Hawaiian goose) will be featured on the 2008-2009 Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The design for the new stamp, painted by 18-year-old Seokkyun Hong of Dallas, Texas, was chosen by a panel of judges Thursday at the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest held at the San Diego Zoo.
|
The oil painting which previously won the Texas State Junior Duck Stamp Contest, was judged the top entry among the Best-of-State entries from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and American Samoa. The 2008-2009 Federal Junior Duck Stamp, which the Fish and Wildlife Service will make available for $5 to stamp collectors, conservationists, and the general public will be released in June 2008. Proceeds from Junior Duck Stamp sales are used to support environmental education efforts and awards for contest winners.
|
The nene is an endangered species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is one of the birds that the San Diego Zoo’s Hawaiian Endangered Bird Conservation Program breeds and releases in cooperation with Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hawaiian government. The forests of the Hawaiian Islands are listed as the most threatened of the Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats in the United States.
|
Another bird species, the ruddy duck was featured by Lydia Han, age 15, of San Jose, California, who took second place with a water-color called "Contented Pair." Third place went to Rebekah Nastav, age 17, of Amoret, Missouri for her rendition of a single hooded merganser called “Evening Swim” done in acrylic. Rebekah was also the winner of the 2006 Federal Junior Duck Stamp competition.
|
The Junior Duck Stamp Contest winner receives a free trip to Washington, D.C.,
|
along with their art teacher, a parent, and the state coordinator, to be honored during a First Day of Sale Ceremony held in June. The first-place winner receives a $5,000 award. The second place winner receives $3,000 and the third-place winner receives $2,000.
|
Contact Info: CHRISTINA SIMMONS,
|
SAN DIEGO ZOO
|
619-685-3291
|
csimmons@sandiegozoo.org
|
ERICA SZLOSEK,
|
USFWS
|
916 612-4664
|
www.sandiegozoo.org
|
Website : The San Diego Zoo
|
|
/SOURCE:
|
The San Diego Zoo |
-0-
|
04-18-2008 |
/CONTACT:
|
CHRISTINA SIMMONS,
SAN DIEGO ZOO
619-685-3291
csimmons@sandiegozoo.org
ERICA SZLOSEK,
USFWS
916 612-4664
www.sandiegozoo.org |
| /WEB SITE: |
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/
|
|
************************************************************************** |
To Transmit Your News Over E-Wire, visit http://www.ewire.com or
call 1-800-343-9013. E-Wire Is Broadcast To Millions Of Readers Worldwide |
************************************************************************** |
|
|
|
|
