Pro Staff Blog

Children Create a Waterfowl Legacy in Mississippi

20080415_DUGreenhorizontal

Starkville, Mississippi – Ducks Unlimited recently celebrated its more than 130 Legacy Greenwing members in Legacy Greenwing members and their families around the new cairns at Trim Cane WMA.

Mississippi by dedicating an Oktibbeha County wildlife area project in their honor. Nearly 100 DU Greenwing youth, parents and grandparents joined members of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) and DU volunteers and staff to place three plaques at the Trim Cane Wildlife Area.

“Greenwings are the future of DU and wetland conservation,” said Bruce Lewis, president of Ducks Unlimited and Mississippi native. “The Legacy Greenwing youth members we recognized on this project today are the wetland conservation leaders of tomorrow.”

Two hundred and twenty acres of the 840-acre complex, located five miles north of Starkville, were restored by a suite of partners. DU provided $108,000 in cost-share funding through its Legacy Greenwing program. Funding was also provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi State University, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and MDWFP.

“DU’s help during restoration of this important wetland complex  was critical,” said Ed Penny, MDWFP Migratory Game Bird Program Coordinator. “Without DU and other partner funding, ducks would not have such productive habitat during winter, and Mississippi’s hunters would not have such a great place to hunt.”
The project is located in the clay hills of eastern Mississippi, an area known for hosting a diverse suite of birds migrating through the Mississippi Flyway. The purpose of the project is to restore the area to a functioning wetland through the construction of moist soil habitats.

“Managing water levels in the impoundments and promoting natural waterfowl foods and planted crops will optimize wetland habitat at Trim Cane WMA for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife,” Penny said.

Also on hand to speak at the unveiling were Mississippi State University College of Forest Resources Department Head Dr. Bruce Leopold, Ducks Unlimited Director Dr. Curtis Hopkins, and Will Primos of Primos hunting calls who donated duck calls to each of the Greenwings. The name of each Legacy Greenwing member is engraved on bronze plaques unveiled at the dedication.

Kevin Paulson

Kevin Paulson is the Founder and CEO of HuntingLife.com. His passion for Hunting began at the age of 5 hunting alongside of his father. Kevin has followed his dreams through outfitting, conservation work, videography and hunting trips around the world.

Related Articles

Back to top button