For 16 years I was a member of the planning committee for the Aroostook Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. I co-chaired the group for two years and was the chairman of the event for 10 very satisfying and productive years. Fewer than a dozen dedicated men planned, prepared and ran our annual dinner and auction, and the support from individuals and regional community businesses was wonderful.

Three or four of us took on the responsibility each year of visiting local retail stores, markets, filling stations and restaurants to request merchandise donations to be used for the raffle table, silent auction, door prizes or the live auction. Soliciting is a tedious chore, but when you believe in a cause and present a reasonable request, even the most beleaguered businesses often come through with some item or service for the good of the waterfowl in general, and our local DU chapter in particular. Many of our area retailers became members, and firm supporters and participants in the yearly event, once they became fully aware of the scope and breadth of Ducks Unlimited endeavors around the world.

A small donation

One incident in particular, among the hundreds of store visits and requests for donations, stands out in my mind and memories to this day. Upon making my appeal for a DU bequest at the main counter of a local bookstore, I was directed to the main office to speak directly to the owner. A rather stern and businesslike older woman listened patiently to my spiel, pinned me with an icy gaze and said, “You’re that outdoor writer, you shoot ducks don’t you?”

She had me. For years I had perused and purchased magazines on hunting and fishing, and many times this very woman had rung up the sales. From my newspaper and magazine articles with accompanying photos and recipes, it was evident that not only did I avidly hunt waterfowl, I cooked and ate various species of ducks and geese with great gusto and little remorse.

I wasn’t insulted or taken aback, for I’d run into situations of anti-hunting sentiment many times before, and special handling is required. Often my first thought is to make light of the situation, and explain that while I do hunt ducks, I’m not considered a serious threat, but such misconceptions are no laughing matter.

The second option is to drop the matter quietly, thank the person for their time, and move on, but that approach resolves nothing.

All of a sudden, much more than a small donation was at stake. Here was a person who had never been an outdoorsman, and truly had no idea about the bond between a hunter and his quarry, nor the crucial link between sportsmen and conservation. I told the store owner that if she had a bit of time, I had a short tale to tell, a story about how duck hunters are the heart and soul of Ducks Unlimited, and how DU projects affect land, animals and people far beyond its feathered namesakes. Perhaps some of you aren’t familiar with the DU story either.

In the beginning

If you recognize the phrase “The dirty thirties,” then you’re probably familiar with the Dust Bowl era of the Midwest. After World War I, the sudden massive westward expansion led to extensive draining and cultivation of marshes, swamps, river bottoms and wetlands. Civilization spread and industrialization flourished, and the natural habitat with its wide variety of wildlife diminished under the onslaught of urban sprawl, modern enterprise and commercial capitalism. During the early 1930s, when many of these changes were taking place, several years of severe drought conditions compounded the damage to our nation’s nesting and breeding grounds.

In 1937, a small group of sportsmen who recognized the damage already done, and feared for the future of the nation’s waterfowl, banded together to try and stop further loss of habitat and perhaps reclaim some damaged areas for the birds. Due to the drought and human infringement, North American waterfowl populations had plunged to all- time lows and were in dire straits.

This band of outdoorsmen became Ducks Unlimited, and their goal was, and continues to be, to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for the benefit of North America’s waterfowl, other wildlife and future sportsmen. Founding members incorporated DU in 1937 and the fledgling conservation group grew to 6,720 supporters and raised just more than $90,000 for their cause by year’s end.

Starting in the 1940s, DU focused much of its efforts on Canada’s prairie breeding grounds where 50 percent of North America’s ducks are hatched. These shallow wetlands and nesting sites continue to be of prime importance and receive constant management attention.

In 1974, DU turned its attention to Mexico and worked on projects to secure and maintain wintering habitats for migrating waterfowl. Since the 1980s, DU has expanded its efforts into the Caribbean and several Latin American locations as well, all the while maintaining its efforts in the U.S. and Canada. Bad years, such as 1980’s harsh drought, and last year’s very dry conditions hinder progress and tax DU personnel and funds, but thanks to unprecedented growth, waterfowl’s super hero syndicate, Ducks Unlimited presses forward.

Facts and figures

Ducks Unlimited is a grassroots volunteer organization whose members are conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts and sportsmen. Last year, we hosted nearly 5,000 fund-raising events, such as member and sponsor dinners and auctions, shooting and fishing tournaments and golf outings. These events generated 35 percent of our annual revenues and 68 percent of our membership. Last year, 83 percent of DU’s revenue was converted directly into habitat conservation.

DU raised $138.5 million last year, and the grand total since 1937 is $1.725 billion. We enjoy a membership of 628,000 adults and 71,000 greenwings (17 and under) in the flock. In the U.S., Canada and Mexico alone, our efforts have conserved, reclaimed and revitalized 10,318,872 acres of habitat. Each and every member, from the young greenwings to the old ganders, seek the same goal – conservation. We don’t just talk about it, we work at it.

Our wetland work isn’t just for our own benefit. The projects have helped others by creating a stabilized water supply for agriculture, industry and municipalities. Although our name only mentions ducks, the marshlands we protect and restore are homes and breeding grounds for hundreds of birds, fish and mammals, many on the endangered species list.

From the bald eagle to the kangaroo rat, whooping crane to great garter snake and Hawaiian hoary bat to the peregrine falcon, DU benefits them all. When you set out to save ducks, you save a lot of living creatures along the way.

Maine has about 2,300 DU members, and 17 fund-raising events take place annually. Last year our state raised $593,334 for waterfowl conservation. Despite not being a major flyway lane, Maine has garnered a fair amount of attention to wetland projects. So far we have 22 completed projects totaling 3,980 acres of wetland. Thanks to DU, the $816,348 in reclamation and restoration costs for out state were covered.

Dine for a duck

Banquets and auctions are some of Maine’s greatest fund- raising events for Ducks Unlimited. Throughout the year, various communities with a DU chapter put on a wonderful meal and offer beautiful artwork, elaborate carvings, and a wide array of sporting gear up for bid. Having attended such dinners at various locations across Maine, I’ve found the food to be superb, the company friendly and entertaining and the auction exciting.

These are events the entire family will enjoy, and although each attendee is concerned with conservation and the wetland environment, many are not hunters. Anyone who has never attended a DU event is missing a fun evening, as well as the chance to have a personal impact on national and state conservation and environmental issues.

The continued impact of a growing population, increasing pollution and expanding industry and agriculture makes the work of this non-profit organization more vital than ever. Biologists estimate that millions of additional habitat acres must be reserved just to stabilize North American waterfowl populations. As civilization presses outward, so must DU press forward. If DU is to keep birds flying, we need your help, but first we need your understanding. Attend a banquet or event, talk to a member, read a copy of the monthly magazine, and most importantly, become a supporting member to assure waterfowl are present for your grandchildren and their grandchildren.

I am a duck hunter, as many Mainers are, but we do our best to give something back via Ducks Unlimited. All DU members aren’t hunters, and unfortunately all duck hunters aren’t DU members, perhaps it’s time to remedy that situation.

Upcoming events and ticket contacts include:

. Bangor Chapter: Sept. 19, David Poll, 947-4616;

. Aroostook Chapter: Sept. 21, Jim Gramlich, 455-4419;

. Ellsworth Chapter: Oct. 19, Patrick Maguire, 667-7724.

For more information about Ducks Unlimited in general or starting a chapter in your community, call regional director Bill Brown at 377-7941.

By the way, the lady who owned the bookstore in the first portion of my article did listen to my story about DU, and much to my surprise and pleasure she did make a donation. In her own way however, she expressed her innermost feeling about duck hunters. Her donation was a handsome, hardbound book with a variety of color plates, on what else -bird watching!

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached at graves@umpi.maine.edu