More than 136,000 acres for birds, other wildlife

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission recently approved more than $19 million in grants to protect and restore more than 135,000 acres of wetlands and wildlife habitat in the United States and Mexico. The Commission awarded the grants under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

The Commission also approved more than $800,000 to add more than 1,350 wetland acres to two units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. These acquisitions include 1,315 acres to provide habitat for waterfowl at San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge in Matagorda County, Texas; and 38 acres of habitat at North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area in Butte County, California.

Funds for the refuge acquisitions come from import duties collected on arms and ammunition and sales of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, otherwise known as the Federal Duck Stamp (above, the 2010 stamp - American Wigeon). The stamp features the winner of the annual Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest.