By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s September, 2024 Newsletter edition.
WWA has just been recognized nationally — TWICE in the last month alone — for its work in advancing Wisconsin waterfowl and hunting. The US Fish and Wildlife Serve just bestowed its National Bluewing Teal Award on WWA for our 40 year track record. And Delta Waterfowl has named WWA its 2024 Partner in Conservation for advocacy work in the state. This is the first time a Wisconsin organization or individual has received either award.

Dr. Sarah Orlofske presents WWA Executive Director Bruce Ross (L) and President Bruce Urben (R) with the USFWS’ North American Blue-Winged Teal Award
It is meaningful that these two widely respected international organizations celebrated WWA contributions. While the USFWS has been a WWA partner of one sort or another for most of our 40 years, they took time this year to recognize our contributions in support of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan that guides our continental approach to sustaining and growing waterfowl across the US.
- The North American Blue-Winged Teal Award is presented annually by the USFWS for “activities at the national or regional level that result in substantial benefits to waterfowl, other wetland- associated migratory bird populations or wetlands habitats, at the national scale.” WWA joins an impressive list of previous winners of this singular waterfowl-related award.
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Cyrus Hunter Baird, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Delta Waterfowl (R) presents Bruce Ross with the Delta Waterfowl Partners in Conservation Award
The Delta Waterfowl Partners in Conservation Award is “presented to an organization whose work in the conservation arena has been collaborative with Delta Waterfowl to strive towards benefiting waterfowl, waterfowl habitat, and waterfowl hunters.” This is only the third such award in Delta’s history (Ducks Unlimited was the first!) <<picture of Cyrus presenting award – sent separately>>
WWA is proud to have been recognized by these large and impactful organizations, validating that WWA is making a difference as a state-based waterfowling organization.
It seems people are sitting up and taking notice of the work we are doing on behalf of state waterfowlers. Earlier this year, we reported that the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation recognized WWA as its Conservation Organization of the Year, and that our wood duck middle school program developers Ryan and Jessica Peterson had also been recognized as WWF’s Educators of the year!