The Waterfowl Festival continues its long-standing support of conservation initiatives across the shore
Caring Commitment
Conservation—it’s always been a foundation of the Waterfowl Festival (WF) mission. Since its inception in 1971, the Waterfowl Festival has donated nearly $6 million to conservation projects across the United States and Canada. The cause is just as important today, as modern efforts impact waterfowl populations, other wildlife and our region’s residents and visitors.
Recently, WF officials toured a meaningful project that is supported in part by the funds raised from the Festival—and their takeaway was special. The Wellington Wildlife Management area in Somerset County, MD, is a 429-acre, mainly forested tract with several open-field complexes managed for herbaceous successional cover, providing a variety of habitats for native and migratory species. The Festival’s support helped purchase 10 additional acres of land that will be transformed into wetland habitat.
This is an excellent place to visit for a day afield during open hunting seasons for deer, turkey, dove, rabbit and squirrel. Non-hunting activities that are very popular among regular visitors include bird watching and photography.
Festival is for Family
For more than 50 years, The Waterfowl Festival’s roster of events have delighted crowds and created keepsake memories. This year’s edition will do the same by including a host of kid-and-family-friendly activities, including the “Quackin’ Trail” featuring the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile, the “Skyhunters in Flight” raptor show, Willa’s Waterfowl Adventure coloring and storybook time, decoy painting classes and fun character meet-and-greets with Webster The Goose and Winston The Dog, who will eagerly make his Festival debut.
“Families have always played an integral role in the Waterfowl Festival’s success,” says Deena Kilmon, Executive Director, Waterfowl Festival Inc. “It is very important that we welcome, educate and inspire our youth regarding all the wonderful aspects of the waterfowl industry. The Festival has positively influenced generations—and we look forward to continuing that tradition for years to come.”
Calling All Champions
The World Goose Calling Championship, founded in 1976, is the longest running goose calling championship in the United States—and it returns to The Waterfowl Festival this November.
Competitors, immersed in the language of the incredible waterfowl of the region, compete against each other the for coveted title of World Champion in five divisions. Many of the industry’s leaders in waterfowl calling and hunting have gotten their start on the calling championship stage at the Waterfowl Festival.
