Calling all young artists: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting entries for the 2019 Michigan Junior Duck Stamp Contest administered by the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in Saginaw. Entries must be postmarked by March 15.

The USFWS has hosted the contest in Michigan since 1995 to boost education and awareness about North America’s waterfowl and wetland resources. In 2018, Alice Ying of Novi won the contest with her acrylic drawing of nene (Hawaiian) geese.

Entries will be judged in four groups, according to grade level: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. Submitted artwork can feature one of the following species: whistling ducks, swans, geese, brants, dabbling ducks, diving ducks, sea ducks, mergansers, stiff tails or Hawaiian ducks. Judging will be open to the public this spring at Green Point Environmental Learning Center in Saginaw. Entries will be judged on original design, anatomical accuracy, artistic composition and suitability for reproduction on a 1-inch by 1.5-inch stamp.

In addition to first-, second- and third-place entries, contest judges will select a “Best of Show” entry that will be submitted to the Federal Duck Stamp Office and entered into the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest.

The first-place art from the national contest is used to create a national junior duck stamp each year. The junior stamp is available for $5 from the U.S. Postal Service and from many national wildlife refuges. Proceeds from stamp sales support conservation education and provide awards and scholarships for participating students, teachers and schools.

A downloadable entry form, a list of permitted species and full information on contest rules and regulations for teachers and supervising adults are available at FWS.gov/JuniorDuck.

Questions? Contact Holly Vaughn, 313-396-6863.