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soon arose a disturbing observation—the vast, sky-darkening flocks of ducks 
were rapidly diminishing. As waterfowl populations continued their down- 
ward plunge toward oblivion, concern mounted into full scale alarm. 
So it was, in this black hour in 1929 that the solid foundation for Ducks 
Unlimited was carved by way of formation of the “More Game Birds In 
America Foundation.” Searching for the answers to the dark problems 
responsible for the tragic decrease of continental waterfowl] populations, 
the Foundation launched an intensive study, lasting several years. Among 
the survey’s conclusions: (1) More than 65 percent of the continent’s water- 
fowl began life in the three rich Canadian prairie provinces of Alberta, 
Saskatchewan and Manitoba; (2) The irresistible onslaught of civilization, 
through draining and cultivation, was steadily ravishing the prime breeding 
grounds; (3) Natural droughts and fioods were becoming increasingly 
critical as a limiting factor in waterfowl production. Finally, the study 
concluded that if the duck and geese populations were to be maintained 
and restored, then immediate eftorts must begin in the gigantic task of 
rehabilitating and preserving the primary nesting areas of Canada. 
Ducks Unlimited Is Born 
To attack this monumental task, a group of farsighted American sports- 
men banded together to form Ducks Unlimited. It was January 29, 1937, 
that DU was incorporated in Washington as a unique non-profit membership 
organization, dedicated to the wise conservation of waterfowl and the 
perpetuation of the noble heritage of waterfowling. 
The U.S. government, realizing that federal funds could not be spent 
for conservation in Canada (even though American sportsmen gained 
primary benefit), granted tax exemption for contributions to DU’s am- 
bitious programs ot reclaiming and preserving the prime waterfowl breed- 
ing grounds. To actually construct the projects, and to handle the many 
facets of such a gigantic building program, a companion Canadian corpora- 
tion called Ducks Unlimited (Canada) was formed, under laws of the 
Dominion. 
Needless to say, DU was faced with problems of immense proportion 
when dirt was turned on its first wetlands project—Manitoba’s Big Grass 
Marsh—in 1938. Even with a depression lingering in both the U.S. and 
Canada, the determined outdoorsmen pulled up their boots and waded in. 
To the wholehearted support of American sportsmen was added the in- 
valuable cooperation of Canada’s Provincial and Dominion governments, 
plus that of ranchers, landholders, communities and industries, who gen- 
erously granted long-term land leases on wetlands areas. 
The result—a program of truly international cooperation in conserva- 
tion, in a brotherhood that has been unrivaled anywhere. 
30 Years of Pioneering 
Since this extraordinary conservation movement was initiated some 
three decades ago, Ducks Unlimited has led the way in the perpetuation 
of waterfowl. It has utilized all facilities at its command to restore, pre- 
serve and create nesting habitat for ducks and geese. DU has expended 
over 12 million dollars to plan, build, and develop some 850 “duck factories,” 
as its projects are appropriately called by sportsmen and wildlife officials. 
All told, since work first began in 1938, a thousand water control structures— 
dams, dikes and levies—have been constructed. Today, Ducks Unlimited 
has, under lease, more than 11% million acres of prime wetland habitat, 
with total shoreline (a vital ingredient of top quality production) measur- 
ing some 8,000 miles. 
