{"id":61,"date":"2026-05-13T15:55:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T15:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-uwsp-multi.pantheonsite.io\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/?page_id=61"},"modified":"2026-05-15T18:22:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:22:10","slug":"2025-seminar-series","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/seminar-series\/2025-seminar-series\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Seminar Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"uwsp-horizontal-cards light-gray-solid blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div class=\"site-width\"><section class=\"hcard-container\" aria-label=\"Horizontal Card\"><div class=\"uwsp-horizontal-card-container\" aria-live=\"off\">\n<div class=\"uwsp-horiz-card-block\" id=\"hcard17783486588807927\"><div class=\"uwsp-horiz-card-individual split5050 hcard-imgright\"><div class=\"hcard-infocell\"><h3 class=\"hcard-title\">The Art of Waterbird and Wetlands Management<\/h3><div class=\"hcard-content\"><div>This Series explores the strong overlap between wildlife art and the science of conserving waterfowl, shorebirds and their habitats. Many artists celebrate the beauty of wildlife with their creations &#8211; drawings, paintings, decoy carvings, and more. Waterbird conservation is strongly tied to revenues generated from the US Fish and Wildlife Service&#8217;s Federal Duck Stamp and state-level art contests. \u200bJoin us to learn more about the history and art form of decoy carving, how decoys are used in science, how Duck Stamp funds are used at the federal and state level to protect water birds, and hear about the experience of an award-winning wildlife artist who regularly competes in the Federal Duck Stamp contest.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><div>\n<a class=\"uwspbtn uwsp-btn-solid-purple\" href=\"This Series explores the strong overlap between wildlife art and the science of conserving waterfowl, shorebirds and their habitats. Many artists celebrate the beauty of wildlife with their creations - drawings, paintings, decoy carvings, and more. Waterbird conservation is strongly tied to revenues generated from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Federal Duck Stamp and state-level art contests. \u200bJoin us to learn more about the history and art form of decoy carving, how decoys are used in science, how Duck Stamp funds are used at the federal and state level to protect water birds, and hear about the experience of an award-winning wildlife artist who regularly competes in the Federal Duck Stamp contest.\" target=\"_self\">Watch the Recorded Seminars! <i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"hcard-mediacell\"><div class=\"hcard-images hcard-oneimg\"><div class=\"hcard-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/05\/WCW-bufflehead.jpg)\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"hslider-buttoncontainer\"><button class=\"hsliderBack horizontal-sliderbutton\" aria-label=\"previous slide\">\u276e<\/button><div class=\"single-card-nav\"><\/div><button class=\"hsliderForward horizontal-sliderbutton\" aria-label=\"next slide\">\u276f<\/button><\/div><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtabs blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div class=\"vtab-thetabs\"><div class=\"accentlinetop\" role=\"none\"><\/div><div class=\"vtab-nav\"><\/div><div class=\"vtab-content\">\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">Ding&#8217;s Darling &#8211; An American Conservation Hero and the Federal Duck Stamp<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Tim Eisele<\/h2><div>\n<p>Ding Darling was America\u2019s premier conservation editorialist who is considered to be the Father of the Federal Duck Stamp. In this presentation, you can be the Judge!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tim Eisele is a Freelance Outdoors writer and photographer, who is best known for his articles in The Wisconsin Outdoor News covering the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Board. He has also written for The Capital Times, the Wisconsin State Journal, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Tim has a Master\u2019s Degree in Ag Journalism from UW-Madison, and has served as a judge for the 1994 Federal Duck Stamp competition..<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ding&#039;s Darling - An American Conservation Hero and the Federal Duck Stamp\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WJKfNfxRcv4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">Bird Decoys from the View of a Biologist<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Chris Nicolai<\/h2><div>\n<p>In this seminar, Chris Nicolai, Waterfowl Scientist with Delta Waterfowl, shares his experience as a waterfowl decoy carver and waterfowl biologist, exploring the intersection between the art and techniques involved in decoy carving and waterfowl management. Chris has been carving decoys since he was 13. He has used his hand-carved decoys in his own waterfowl studies and provided them to others for waterfowl capture efforts and research. He will share his experience with the art of carving decoys and discuss how he has used them in hunting and research.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"&quot;Bird Decoys from the View of a Biologist&quot; - Chris Nicolai\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cuVIc1X3hhA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">Wisconsin Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy in Action<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Taylor Finger<\/h2><div>\n<p>This seminar features Taylor Finger, a game bird specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taylor discusses the history, goals, and implementation of the 2020 Wisconsin Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy: a 15-year plan that directs strategic waterfowl habitat conservation in Wisconsin. The Strategy is a plan that aids in delivering the goals and objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) and the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture\u2019s Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy. He explores how the Strategy works towards improving habitat for waterfowl in Wisconsin, thus sustaining or increasing waterfowl populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taylor is the Game Bird Specialist with the WDNR and a UWSP Alumni!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wisconsin Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy in Action\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KAQIa_Wec4Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">The Artform of Functional Hunting Decoys<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Pat Gregory<\/h2><div>\n<p>This seminar features Pat Gregory, waterfowler and master decoy carver, and his seminar \u201cThe Artform of Functional Hunting Decoys&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even functional hunting decoys have elements of artwork. Things like design, symmetry, and form are necessary for hand-carved decoys. Knowing correct waterfowl anatomy, seasonal plumage, and gender differences is essential to carving a well-balanced rig of decoys. In addition, a good understanding of the different species of ducks that fly the flyway where decoys will be used is important. Pat will share his experience as a decoy carver and discuss the history, cultural significance, and utility of this unique artform.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Artform of Functional Hunting Decoys\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/reigsxD9w5k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">The Secrets of Secretive Marshbirds<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Auriel Fournier<\/h2><div>\n<p>The WCW welcomed Auriel Fournier, Ph.D, Director of Forbes Biological Station, and Associate Research Scientist Illinois Natural History Survey with her presentation: \u201cSecrets of Secretive Marsh Birds\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A remarkable number of secrets remain in wetland birds, Auriel Fournier especially the small group of birds collectively known as \u201csecretive marshbirds.\u201d Auriel will share what we have learned about the natural history and biology of rails, gallinules, and bitterns, from their breeding ecology and migration to how they respond to wetland management.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Secrets of Secretive Marshbirds\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/44Wx0SpYJVM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">Managing Wetlands for Waterbirds on Horicon National Wildlife Refuge<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Sadie O&#8217;Dell<\/h2><div>\n<p>Sadie O&#8217;Dell, Wildlife Biologist at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Complex (US Fish and Wildlife Service) presents: \u201cManaging Wetlands for Waterbirds on Horicon National Wildlife Refuge\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge is one of many national refuges in the US that was established, in part, by purchasing land with funds raised through Duck Stamp sales. In this seminar, O\u2019Dell will discuss the latest strategies and challenges related to effectively managing habitats and monitoring populations and trends of waterbirds using integrated management approaches on this unique Wisconsin refuge. Sadie O&#8217;Dell has been restoring and managing wetlands for over 20 years for the USFWS and is the lead wildlife biologist at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Complex.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Managing Wetlands for Waterbirds on Horicon National Wildlife Refuge\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eO3Ekj7nWY0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwsp-vtab-thetab\"><div class=\"vtab-tabtitle\">Creativity and Conservation: My Experience with the Federal Duck Stamp Comtest<i class=\"fa-solid fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"vtab-tabcontent\">\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><h2>Presented by Rebekah Knight<\/h2><div>\n<p>This seminar features special guest, Rebekah Knight, Wildlife Artist and second-place runner-up in the 2024 Federal Duck Stamp Contest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rebekah shares how winning the Junior Federal Duck Stamp contest in 2006 at 15 years old led her to a career as a wildlife artist. Exploring the outdoors as a child and exposure to hunting and fishing helped her develop a strong appreciation and understanding of the importance of habitat and wildlife conservation and the connection between hunting and conservation. With this appreciation, she enters the Federal Duck Stamp Competition each year. Rebekah shares the processes she uses to design and prepare a painting for entry into the Contest and shares her experience as a contestant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rebekah&#8217;s art has been featured on the Nevada State Duck Stamp, the National Duck Stamp Collectors Society Stamp, and she placed second in the Federal Duck Stamp contest twice! She received the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Award of Excellence in 2019, was a finalist for the 2021 and 2024 David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Artist of the Year, and is an associate member of the Society of Animal Artists. Rebekah was featured in the Animal Planet Documentary \u201cMillion Dollar Duck,\u201d which covers the Federal Duck Stamp. Locally, Rebekah\u2019s art has been included in the Leigh Yawkee Woodson Art Museum\u2019s Birds in Art Exhibit. Rebekah\u2019s art features wildlife from Alaska to Africa and anywhere in between, depicted in their natural habitats with stunning realism and detail. See more of Rebekah\u2019s amazing artwork at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1VtZXh2VTUtUDYxOXp0RFBnVWhuWUZOcjVDUXxBQ3Jtc0ttRUdzU2twUUR5MDhLN3o0ZnhIeUt4QzdUSklsSi1hLWZSRkVjUkNHSFNFVi1vM01SRW9aT0JIOXlhcGZrempRQUhIR3BNeUI3TlNnZlFTX2hlX1JHb09oWThSTll5SmdhdmtLVDlJYldYcTh5d3NTMA&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Frebekahknight.com%2F&amp;v=touOsCVqPkE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/rebekahknight.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vtab-content-column bgpurple\"><div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Creativity and Conservation: My Experience with the Federal Duck Stamp Contest - Rebekah Knight\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/touOsCVqPkE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"accentlinebottom\" role=\"none\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"111\" src=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-1024x111.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-1024x111.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-300x32.png 300w, https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-768x83.png 768w, https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-1536x166.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2026\/01\/WCW-FW-Ext-Co-branded-logo-2048x222.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"parent":77,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-61","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":273,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/61\/revisions\/273"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/77"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/wisconsin-center-for-wildlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}