News

Prestigious North American Waterfowl Management Plan Awards Go To CVJV Veterans Red Hunt and Bob Shaffer

August 14, 2013

By Jill Shirley, Outreach Coordinator
Central Valley Joint Venture

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (Plan) lays out a strategy among the United States, Canadian and Mexican governments to restore waterfowl habitat continentally. It is implemented through long-term partnerships of government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals committed to the conservation of North American waterfowl, other wetland-associated migratory birds and the wetland habitats that support them. The success of the Plan depends upon the contributions of these dedicated partners. Some of their efforts have spanned a decade or more, while others have contributed to the Plan’s success through short-term actions.

To give recognition to their work, the Plan Committee established two prestigious awards – the International Canvasback award and the National Blue-winged Teal Award – which it confers on an annual basis to deserving nominees. This year the recipients of both awards came from California and have a long association with the Central Valley Joint Venture.

Red Hunt was given the International Canvasback Award, which is presented to “an exceptional individual, corporation, or organization that has made substantial contributions over a long period of time to the implementation and continuation of the Plan throughout North America.” Central Valley Joint Venture Coordinator, Bob Shaffer, was presented with the National Blue-winged Teal Award, which “recognizes partners whose activities at the national, regional, or local level result in substantial benefits to waterfowl, other wetland-associated migratory bird populations or wetlands habitats, as a one-time, periodic or ongoing effort.”

Both of these individuals have dedicated their time, talent and professional careers to conserving and restoring the migratory bird habitat of the Pacific Flyway. The Management Board and partners of the Central Valley Joint Venture are gratified that the Plan Committee has given Red Hunt and Bob Shaffer the recognition they so richly deserve.

For More Information go to US Fish & Wildlife Service