Title Image

Conservation Projects

Waterfowl Festival Donates $5,000 to Talbot Retriever Club, Strengthening Shared Commitment to Conservation and Sporting Heritage

The Waterfowl Festival is proud to announce a $5,000 grant to the Talbot Retriever Club in support of its ongoing efforts to promote responsible sporting traditions, conservation, and community engagement across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Funds from the Samuel H. Shriver, Jr. Sporting Heritage Endowment were used to fulfill this request.

 

This contribution reflects a longstanding relationship between the two organizations, both of which share a deep commitment to preserving the region’s rich waterfowling heritage and the natural environments that sustain it. The Talbot Retriever Club plays a vital role in training and showcasing skilled retrievers, advancing ethical hunting practices, and fostering appreciation for working dogs as essential partners in the field.

 

“For decades, the Talbot Retriever Club has worked with the festival to educate festival attendees by hosting retriever demonstrations downtown, showcasing the amazing bond between these highly-trained pups and their humans,” remarked festival Vice-President Charles Wrightson. “Consistenly their demos are noted as a favorite event attended by generations of families throughout the years. We are proud to support their efforts.”

Funds from the donation will help support the Club’s training programs, events, and outreach initiatives, which bring together sportsmen and women of all ages to learn, compete, and connect through a shared passion for retrievers and the outdoors. 

 

As the Waterfowl Festival continues its mission to inspire environmental stewardship through art, education, and community programming, partnerships like this remain essential in ensuring that the legacy of the Eastern Shore’s sporting culture endures for future generations.

 

Image: Waterfowl Festival presents $5K check to Talbot Retriever Club (pictured) Danny Callahan (Talbot Retriever Club Vice-President)( Phyliss McGinn and Butch Chambers (Talbot Retriever Club Board Members), Deena Kilmon, Waterfowl Festival Executive Director; Winston Chance (Talbot Retriever Club President), Candace Bartolowits (Talbot Retriever Club Treasurer)

###

About the Waterfowl Festival

Since 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has raised nearly six million dollars for conservation and education efforts. Proceeds from the festival support various environmental, art, student scholarships,  and cultural initiatives, ensuring that future generations can understand and enjoy the beauty and diversity of waterfowl and their environments. The festival also plays a vital role in supporting the local community, drawing visitors from around the country and boosting the regional economy.

The Waterfowl Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the Maryland State Arts Council, the Maryland Historic Trust, the Town of Easton, Talbot County Government, and all of our incredible community partners including the hundreds of volunteers that make all the magic happen. 

 

About The Samuel H. Shriver Jr. Sporting Heritage Fund

The fund was established in the memory of long-time Festival supporter and volunteer, Samuel H. Shriver, Jr. The Fund was established by members of the Shriver family in honor of Mr. Shriver’s love of the annual Waterfowl Festival and its sporting heritage foundation.

Waterfowl Festival Announces Launch of Roof Restoration Project with Support from Preston Automotive Group and Maryland Historic Trust

Easton, Maryland — The Waterfowl Festival is proud to announce the start of a major roof restoration project at its headquarters on Harrison St, marking an important investment in the preservation of the organization’s historic home – also known as the old Easton Armory –  and its continued mission of conservation, education, and community engagement.

 

This critical project on the 99 year old facility is made possible through the generous support of the Waterfowl Festival, Preston Automotive Group, and a $100,000 grant from the Maryland Historic Trust, whose partnership underscores a shared commitment to safeguarding the cultural and architectural heritage of the historic building. In the summer of 2025, a digital and video history of the project was released by The Pocket Media group, noting its critical importance to Easton. This video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/MpS1TpIKXWU

 

For more than 55 years, the Waterfowl Festival has served as a cornerstone of the Eastern Shore community, drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually to celebrate wildlife art, sporting heritage, and the natural environment. Maintaining the integrity of the 1927 building is essential to the festival, but also to the general community. Dozens of non-profits use the building for a multitude of events throughout the year. 

 

“This project represents more than just a new roof—it’s an investment in our city’s future,” said Executive Director Deena Kilmon. “We are incredibly grateful to our Waterfowl family, Preston Automotive Group and the Maryland Historic Trust for recognizing the importance of preserving an incredible building entrusted to us.

 

The restoration of the iconic barrel roof will help protect the historic structure from weather-related damage, improve energy efficiency, and provide a safe and welcoming environment for artists, volunteers, and visitors alike throughout the year. Work is expected to begin in April by Economy Roofing and Restoration, with careful attention to maintaining the building’s historic character. The building is in an easement with the Maryland Historic Trust, and is considered a valuable asset to the state as well as the local region. It remains one of the few publicly accessible armory facilities in use in Maryland. Visitors are encouraged to drop in during festival hours, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm for an informal tour of the facility. 

 

The Waterfowl Festival remains committed to its mission of inspiring appreciation for wildlife and promoting environmental stewardship through art, education, and community involvement. To help offset the costs of this roof restoration project, please contact Deena Kilmon, Executive Director,

 

The 55th annual Waterfowl Festival is planned for November 13-15, 2026. 

Chip Heaps: In Memory

Chip Heaps was a dedicated and earnest member of the Waterfowl Festival family. After being a volunteer for many years, he was named to the Board of Directors in December of 2023. At the time of his passing, he was serving his second term on the board and was the chairman of the Conservation Committee. This important role was a natural fit for Chip, and he took it very seriously. He investigated each proposed project with site visits, research, and by holding conversations with the key project partners. Under Chip’s guidance over the last few years, the Waterfowl Festival awarded $85,000 in projects that supported youth initiatives, community education, and wetlands restoration. Each project was carefully planned and considered. 

 

Chip’s full bio below notes his incredible love for the outdoors and his true passion for helping others support conservation and restoration of wetlands so that future generations would be able to enjoy them as well. 

 

The Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors, Staff, and our extended family will miss Chip deeply and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. 

 

Chip Heaps, Board Biography : 

Chip Heaps was the Senior Director of Development in the Mid-Atlantic for Ducks Unlimited where his region is Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and DC until his retirement in May 2022. As the DOD he was responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations to support the conservation mission of Ducks Unlimited. He worked closely with volunteers as well as conservation and development colleagues on initiatives and proposals for his donors and prospects. He started in this position in July 2008 and prior to that was Senior Regional Director working in the states of Maryland and Virginia for Ducks Unlimited.

As the Senior Regional Director (RD) he was responsible for organizing, servicing and maintaining all Ducks Unlimited committees and fundraising events within his region. He was responsible for developing and establishing new Ducks Unlimited area committees and fundraising events and ensuring compliance with operating and reporting procedures for fundraising activities within the region. He acted as a representative of National

Headquarters to further promote Ducks Unlimited to members of the local media and conservation organizations. He joined the staff of DU in June 1990 after working as a volunteer for many years in Maryland.

Chip is a 1979 graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA with a BS degree in Biology. Prior to coming to work for DU, he was in sales with The Thornley Company, a family-owned business in Wilmington, DE and before that was Safety, Health and Environmental Manager at Cello Corporation in Havre de Grace, MD for 10 years.

Other additional responsibilities include, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors, State Campaign Chairman for Maryland Ducks Unlimited, over 20-year member of the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Advisory Committee, Board, member of Coastal Conservation Association Maryland and Board member of the Maryland Wood Duck Initiative.

Link to Obituary: https://www.mccomasfuneralhome.com/obituaries/charles-heaps

Waterfowl Festival and 1623 Brewing Co. Unite in Support of Conservation


Delmarva Craft Distributing to bring “Goose Sweat Hazy IPA” to the Shore

Easton, MD – October 2, 2025- The Waterfowl Festival is thrilled to announce a special partnership with 1623 Brewing Co. and Delmarva Craft Distributing to create a one-of-a-kind craft beer for the 2025 Festival. This collaboration will bring festivalgoers the limited-edition “Goose Sweat Hazy IPA”, brewed to celebrate Eastern Shore traditions, conservation, and community. The beer will be served at the Festival’s annual premier night on November 13, 2025. 

 

“Each year, we look for new ways to connect people to the spirit of the Festival, and this collaboration with 1623 Brewing Co. is a perfect fit,” said Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, Waterfowl Festival. “Goose Sweat Hazy IPA is fun, flavorful, and 1623 is rooted in the same heritage and sense of community that has defined the Festival for more than fifty years. We had a great time with our volunteers picking the flavor profile!”

 

Thanks to a partnership with Delmarva Craft, Goose Sweat Hazy IPA will be available not only at Festival events, but also in select retailers, bars, and restaurants throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. The beer will give supporters a chance to raise a glass to waterfowl, conservation, and the unique culture of the Shore.

 

“We’re proud to partner with the Waterfowl Festival and Delmarva Craft on this release,” said Mark Evans. “The Festival represents the best of Maryland’s traditions, and we are honored to create a beer that complements the celebration.”

 

Proceeds from the release of Goose Sweat Hazy IPA will help support the Waterfowl Festival’s mission of conserving waterfowl and their habitats while promoting the heritage and traditions of the Eastern Shore. For more information on purchase locations, please contact Rick Carter, Delmarva Craft, 443-666-0110.

Waterfowl Festival Invests $70,000 in Maryland  Wetland Restoration Projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Waterfowl Festival Invests $70,000 in Maryland  Wetland Restoration Projects

Easton, MD – [Insert Date] – The Waterfowl Festival announced today a $70,000 conservation investment to support DU’s Conservation for a Continent Campaign in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These projects will restore wetlands on publicly accessible lands—ensuring that Maryland residents, sportsmen and women, birdwatchers, and future generations have access to natural and wild open spaces.This funding will directly benefit waterfowl, wildlife, water quality, and outdoor recreation at three high-priority sites: Browns Branch Wildlife Management Area (Queen Anne’s County), LeCompte Wildlife Management Area (Dorchester Co), and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Dorchester County).

For more than 50 years, the Waterfowl Festival has celebrated the rich traditions of the Chesapeake Bay while advancing habitat conservation. This year’s gift, funded by the proceeds from the festival’s annual and iconic Premiere Night event,  underscores the Festival’s renewed commitment to protecting the landscapes that sustain both wildlife and the way of life that makes the Shore unique.

“Supporting meaningful, strategic, and shovel-ready  projects of this size ensures that our investment in conservation has lasting impact,” said Julie Susman, Board President, Waterfowl Festival. “These projects improve waterfowl habitat in some of the most important areas of the Atlantic Flyway while also enhancing public access, recreation, and the health of the Chesapeake Bay.”

The $70,000 contribution will help fund three major projects:

  • Browns Branch Wildlife Management Area (Queen Anne’s County) – $20,000 will restore 16.2 acres of marginal farmland into shallow emergent wetlands, improving habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds while reducing an estimated 826 pounds of nitrogen and nearly 39,000 pounds of sediment from entering the Bay each year. 
  • LeCompte Wildlife Management Area (Dorchester County) – $20,000 will support the conversion of 16.6 acres of agricultural land into managed wetlands, enhancing habitat for migratory waterfowl and reducing more than 1,100 pounds of nitrogen and 59,000 pounds of suspended solids annually in the Nanticoke watershed. 
  • Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (Dorchester County) – $30,000 will leverage federal funding to restore 23 acres within the Refuge’s core 250-acre managed wetland complex. This work will sustain one of the most important wintering grounds for migratory waterfowl and improve water quality by reducing 1,800 pounds of nitrogen and more than 160 tons of sediment annually. 

 

“The Chesapeake Bay’s wetlands are irreplaceable for waterfowl and people alike,” said Taylor Deemer, DU Director of Development/Maryland-Delaware. “The Waterfowl Festival’s investment is a powerful example of how conservation and community come together to make a lasting difference.”

Projects are expected to be completed by June 2026.

About the Waterfowl Festival
The Waterfowl Festival, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Easton, Maryland, is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the celebration of waterfowl art, and the preservation of Eastern Shore heritage. Since its founding in 1971, the Festival has raised millions for habitat restoration and community programs across the Chesapeake Bay region. Learn more at www.waterfowlfestival.org.

 

Image: Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors present check to DU Conservation for a Continent program. In order from left to right: Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, Waterfowl Festival; Jake McPherson, Ducks Unlimited Managing Director of Development- Great Lakes/Atlantic Region; Julie Susman, President, Waterfowl Festival 2025, Austin Durrer, Waterfowl Development Committee Chairman; Chip Heaps, Waterfowl Conservation Committee Chairman; Ernest Burns& Jonathon Rondeau, Waterfowl Board of Directors; Taylor Deemer, DU Director of Development/MD-DE; Colin Perry, Amy Horne, and Kim Newcomb, Waterfowl Board of Directors. 

Waterfowl Festival Grants $15,000 to Community Conservation Partners

For immediate release: 

August 19, 2025

 

Press contact: Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, 410-829-4052

 

Waterfowl Festival Announces  $15,000 in Community Grants

Easton, MD – As part of our ongoing commitment to preserving our rural environment and supporting wildlife conservation, we are pleased to award grants to three outstanding organizations: Delaware Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Conservation Festival, Pickering Creek Audubon Center, and ShoreRivers. Each organization created exceptional projects that will educate and have a positive impact on our community. 

 

“Each year we are proud to give back to organizations working on conservation and education in the community,” remarked Chip Heaps, Conservation Committee chairman. “This year, the competition was tough with well over $170K in requests. We congratulate the three winning projects on rising to the top in a competitive process.”

To celebrate their efforts, the festival will host a “Local Catch Feast” on September 14th at the Waterfowl Building. Grantees from 2024 and 2025 will showcase highlights of their projects while attendees enjoy a reception featuring local seafood. Featured on the menu are the invasive species chesapeake channa and blue catfish. Other items include crab soup, locally grown oysters and local beverages. Tickets can be purchased at waterfowlfestival.org.

 

Every year, our Community in Conservation Grant Program accepts funding requests from non-profits and community organizations across the region whose mission is to make a difference in supporting our shared mission of environmental conservation. The program supports projects that are at the intersection of waterfowl and habitat conservation and how this impacts our community, whether they are focused on education and outreach, science and research, or restoration. Ideally, projects include aspects of each focus area and benefit our waterfowl, their habitats, and the people of our community. Past awardees include University of MD- Horn Point, University of Delaware, and Talbot County Public Schools. The grant cycle will re-open in spring 2026.

 

Non-profit organizations that impact the environment or the education of our community in this space are welcome to exhibit this year in our Chesapeake Bay Pavilion at Easton High School during this year’s Waterfowl Festival November 14-16, 2025. Please contact the Waterfowl Festival for more information on how your organization can participate by emailing or by calling our office, 410-822-4567.

Pictured: Jan Hynson, Waterfowl Festival Board Member; Mary Helen Gillen. Educator and Climate Program Coordinator at Pickering Creek Audubon Center; Amanda Hoyt, Regional Biologist for the Chesapeake DU; Taylor Deemer, Director of Development DE and MD Ducks Unlimited; Julie Susman Waterfowl Festival Board President; Jerry Serie, Waterfowl Festival Conservaton Committee; Chip Heaps, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors/Conservation Committee Chairman; Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, Waterfowl Festival.

Presenting check to Phillips Wharf

2025 Waterfowl Community in Conservation Grant Fund open for applications

Easton, MD – The Waterfowl Festival is excited to match resources with environmental needs across the region through its annual “Community in Conservation” funding program. These grants, supported by proceeds from the annual Waterfowl Festival event offer non-profits and community entities the chance to receive monies for projects and initiatives at the intersection of conservation and community.

“Each year, we are proud to offer this support to deserving conservation and allied organizations,” remarked Chip Heaps, Conservation Committee Chairman, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors.  “Now more than ever, it is critical that we provide resources to those who are working hard to preserve our open spaces and wildlife habitats for future generations.”

Over the past five decades, dozens of organizations have been supported by the Waterfowl Festival, creating a legacy of education, leadership, and engagement in the conservation space. Recent projects and grantees include Ducks Unlimited, the Wellington Wildlife Management Area, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center,  and ShoreRivers.

Maryland, Virginia, or Delaware organizations are encouraged to reach out to the Waterfowl Festival with their unique projects needing crucial funding through this grant program. The 2025 grant cycle will begin April 1, 2025 and continue through July 1, 2025. Grantees will be announced and funds distributed by September, 2025 in advance of the 54th Annual Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD. 

Guidelines to apply: 

Please submit your application via our online portal (mailed copies will not be accepted) 

Application portal: https://waterfowlfestival.org/conservation/

Deadline: July 1, 2025

 

With this focus on connecting our financial resources to local environmental needs we now support projects in these four priority areas:

  1. Initiatives at the intersections of waterfowl conservation and community
  2. Education programs on Delmarva focusing on current and future generations of conservationists, enthusiasts and educators
  3. Research and scientific work of graduate students, volunteer groups
    and non-profits on Delmarva
  4. Restoration and conservation of projects that benefit waterfowl and
    regional habitat enhancement in ways that connect with larger bay habitat
    restoration goals

Waterfowl Festival, Inc Presents “An Evening for Conservation”

Waterfowl Festival, Inc. Presents “An Evening for Conservation”

 

Easton, MD – For over fifty years, the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD, has supported dozens of projects across the region aimed at preserving our natural landscapes for all to enjoy. On June 13, 2024, the organization will host a unique evening to celebrate our commitment to the Eastern Shore’s heritage of abundant waterfowl and bountiful wetland resources. Nearly six million dollars of funds have been raised over the years and donated to mission-aligned organizations that help restore lands, educate the general public, and provide rich programming to our community’s children and students. 

 

The event will feature a seasonal menu directed by celebrated Chef Paul Shiley and the Tidewater’s outstanding culinary team led by Executive Chef Hampton Turner. Guests will enjoy a specialty cocktail, wonderful cuisine, and most especially fellowship with those who share a passion for our mission. During the evening, guests can explore displays of conservation projects funded over the years and engage in conversation with their stewards. Representatives from Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, ShoreRivers, and Pickering Creek will be on hand to discuss their funded conservation projects. 

 

“The Waterfowl Festival has a long tradition of partnering with organizations across the region to celebrate, support, and enhance our outdoor heritage and traditions,” remarked Chip Heaps, Conservation Chairman, “This event will serve to celebrate this legacy and provide an insight to the work ahead of us in coming years.” 

 

The evening will end with keynote speaker Dr. Karen Waldrop, Chief Conservation Officer, Ducks Unlimited. Dr. Waldrop will highlight some of the work funded over the years by the Waterfowl Festival as well as discuss innovative ways organizations are working on conservation projects at the national level. All proceeds of this dinner will be used for our Community in Conservation grant program.

 

Limited seating available. For tickets, please visit: waterfowfestival.org/conservation dinner or email Deena Kilmon, Executive Director,

 

About the Waterfowl Festival: 

Since 1971, Waterfowl Festival, Inc. has faithfully supported the principal tenet of waterfowl and wildlife conservation. Led by hundreds of dedicated volunteers, the Waterfowl Festival has contributed over six million dollars to conservation organizations across the nation. The 2024 Festival will be held Nov. 8-10 in historic Easton, MD. For more information, to volunteer or to donate, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org or call 410-822-4567.

2024 Community in Conservation Grant Fund Open for Applications

Easton, MD – The Waterfowl Festival is excited to match resources with environmental needs across the region through its annual “Community in Conservation” funding program. These grants, supported by proceeds from annual Waterfowl Festival weekend, annual donors, and the Conservation Dinner Series, offer non-profits and community entities the chance to receive monies for projects and initiatives at the intersection of conservation and community.

“We are pleased to offer this grant opportunity for our mission-aligned organizations here on the Delmarva peninsula,” remarked Eric Milhollan, President, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors.  “Now more than ever, it is critical that we provide support and encouragement to those organizations who are working hard to celebrate the natural environment and preserve it for future generations.”

Over the past five decades, dozens of organizations have been supported by the Waterfowl Festival, creating a legacy of education, leadership, and engagement in the conservation space. Recent projects and grantees include Ducks Unlimited, the Wellington Wildlife Management Area, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center,  University of MD Center for Environmental Science – Project: Enhancing the Horn Point Nature Trail Experience, and the ShoreRivers – Project: Underwater Grasses Restoration.

“The Waterfowl Festival has been a long-time conservation partner of Ducks Unlimited,” said Regional Biologist Ed Farley. “Right now, we are restoring a 40-acre wetland that was historically drained for row crops at Wellington Wildlife Management Area. The work could not have been done without funding from the Waterfowl Festival.”

Maryland, Virginia, or Delaware organizations are encouraged to reach out to the Waterfowl Festival with their unique projects needing crucial funding through this grant program. The 2024 grant cycle will begin April 1, 2024 and continue through July 31, 2024. Grantees will be announced and funds distributed by November 7, 2024 in advance of the 53rd Annual Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD. 

The 2024 Conservation Dinner will be held in June in Easton, MD. Those interested in sponsoring or attending this dinner are encouraged to reach out to the Festival via

Guidelines to apply: 

Please submit your application via our online portal (mailed copies will not be accepted) 

Application portal: https://waterfowlfestival.org/conservation/community-in-conservation/

Deadline: July 1, 2024 

 

With this focus on connecting our financial resources to local environmental needs we now support projects in these four priority areas:

  1. Initiatives at the intersections of waterfowl conservation and community
  2. Education programs on Delmarva focusing on current and future generations of conservationists, enthusiasts and educators
  3. Research and scientific work of graduate students, volunteer groups
    and non-profits on Delmarva
  4. Restoration and conservation of projects that benefit waterfowl and
    regional habitat enhancement in ways that connect with larger bay habitat
    restoration goals
2021 MD Waterfowler's Association Conservation in Community Winner

Blackwater Refuge

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.7.6″ background_color=”rgba(18,135,111,0.22)” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(15,37,76,0.7)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(14,113,98,0.91)” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https://waterfowlfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/WC_HeaderImage.jpg” vertical_offset=”-38px” custom_padding=”||75px|||” global_module=”12538″ collapsed=”off”][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.6″ hover_enabled=”0″ custom_padding=”64px|||||” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.7.6″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” vertical_offset=”-230px” custom_padding=”|10px|0px|10px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.6″ custom_padding=”80px||40px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” padding_tablet=”0px||” padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://waterfowlfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Footer_WC.jpg” title_text=”Footer_WC” _builder_version=”4.7.6″ _module_preset=”default”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.6″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

Waterfowl Chesapeake Commits $20,000 Toward Ducks Unlimited Restoration Project

2018 Awardee

Waterfowl Chesapeake is pleased to announce its commitment of $20,000 in 2018 matching funds to support the restoration of two parcels of land in Dorchester County and creating 25 acres of “managed freshwater emergent wetland” – a favorite habitat for migratory waterfowl coming to the Chesapeake Bay region.

The land is part of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and has been planted in agricultural crops for waterfowl for many years. However, the ground is often so wet that annual planting has become nearly impossible and existing crops are no longer adequately supporting the birds’ needs. The restoration work will create a wetland habitat more suited to both the location and to meeting waterfowl’s lifecycle needs. The project is a partnership between Ducks Unlimited, the Refuge, Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Bay Field Office.

“We are very excited to commit a portion of Waterfowl Festival’s proceeds toward restoration and conservation projects like this on the Shore. It’s very rewarding to be able to continue the Festival’s legacy of year-round support for our region’s unique waterfowl habitats and heritage,” says Margaret Enloe, Waterfowl Chesapeake Executive Director.

Work is expected to begin in early fall of 2018, once remaining funding is secured in the spring. When complete, the two wetland areas, which are adjacent to the Harriett Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, will give visitors to the Blackwater area even more opportunity to enjoy watching our winter ducks, geese and swan feeding and healthy wetland habitat

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

( function ( body ) { 'use strict'; body.className = body.className.replace( /\btribe-no-js\b/, 'tribe-js' ); } )( document.body );