Ducks Unlimited

Creation of Ducks Unlimited
In 1937, Joseph Knapp, Robert Winthrop, and a small group of conservation philanthropists decided on the idea of focusing on the decreasing waterfowl populations, and the habitat necessary to sustain them in Canada.

In 1955, the group conducted the International Wild Duck Census, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) launched its first Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. To help monitor the growth rates of North America’s Ducks.

Ducks Unlimited of Mexico (DUMAC) was founded in 1970 to secure key waterfowl wintering areas south of the U.S. border. This event was the culmination of three decades of effort by many volunteer leaders. This allowed Ducks Unlimited to have more influence across North America.

After working exclusively in Canada and later expanding into Mexico, Ducks Unlimited began conserving waterfowl habitat on American soil in 1984. DU's conservation work in the United States initially focused on the restoration of key waterfowl breeding habitats, but as moved on to other ecological places within USA.

Wetlands for Tomorrow, the largest conservation campaign in history, raised $1.88 billion for Ducks Unlimited's conservation programs-well above the campaign goal of $1.7 billion. This allowed Ducks Unlimited and its partners were able to conserve 2 million acres of wetlands.