IN THIS EDITION: -Latest News: DU Web Site Celebrates Kids Month in May -Conservation: Wildlife Groups Mobilize Behind National Agricultural Legislation -Online Poll: Great Outdoors Festival -DU National Art Package: View DU prints that may be featured at your local event -Mallard Trax: Mallard Study/Radio Telemetry Photo Gallery -Waterfowling Tip: Beaver Proof -Retriever Tips: Introducing Pup to Gunfire -Game and Fish Recipes: Foil Fish ***LATEST NEWS*** DU Web Site Celebrates Kids Month in May-Launches New Area for Youngsters The official Ducks Unlimited Web site is celebrating tomorrow's conservation leaders today by designating May as Kids Month. During the month of May, www.ducks.org will have games, contests, live chat, and other activities. Artwork from Greenwings, DU's youth members, will be displayed throughout the site. The official DU site will also include information to help members on the local level to hold their own Greenwing events. Teachers are welcome to have their classes participate in any of the activities. Full Story ***CONSERVATION*** Wildlife Groups Mobilize Behind National Agricultural Legislation Twenty-five of the nation's wildlife conservation organizations have expressed strong support for two agricultural programs, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). Together, these groups' combined membership exceeds 5 million devoted outdoor enthusiasts, making them one of the largest and most powerful wildlife conservation coalitions in the country. Full Story. ***NATIONAL PACKAGE*** DU prints that may be featured at your local event DU events are a great way to meet friendly new people who share the same love of conservation as you, so don't be shy about attending a local event to renew your membership. Some of the best artwork to be found is available only at your local event, so make plans to attend one now. 2001-2002 Art Package ***MALLARD TRAX*** Mallard Study and Radio Telemetry Photo Gallery Ducks Unlimited has launched a major study to determine the limiting factors of mallards breeding in the Great Lakes area. The three-year study will track 600 mallard hens in the Great Lakes states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. To see the new slide show of waterfowl biologists hard at work, click here ***WATERFOWLING TIPS*** Beaver Proof A special thanks to DU members R.L. and Chad Coley from Palmer Springs, VA, for this tip featured in 161 Waterfowling Secrets: While hunting Lake Gaston on the North Carolina-Virginia border, we have found it is well worthwhile to cover the posts of our blinds with PVC pipe. This prevents beavers from gnawing on them. This simple step can save a great deal of inconvenience after the blind is completed. Purchase the book ***RETRIEVER TIPS*** Introducing Pup to Gunfire By Robert Milner, excerpted from Retriever Training: A Back to Basics Approach The key to introductions is to make them pleasant. When Pup is being introduced to new experiences or objects, it is the trainer's responsibility to make sure that Pup doesn't develop any negative associations with the new place or thing being introduced. The essential points on introducing Pup to the sound of a shotgun are (1) plan the introduction so that the noise is gradually increasing in volume and (2) make sure the noise is associated with the activity that Pup loves best: retrieving. Full Story ******************************* Be sure to: *Forward this newsletter to a friend! *Log on to DU's web site at http://www.ducks.org *Send a DU e-card *Participate in the DU Online Community (provided through KOZ.com) *Listen in to DU's radio program, The World of Ducks Unlimited, on over 300 stations nationwide *Join DU today and receive a subscription to Ducks Unlimited Magazine and access to the Members Only section of our web site. Call 800-45-DUCKS *Advertise to over 160,000 unique visitors each month on the DU website. The Ducks Unlimited website is currently averaging over 500,000 page views/month.