Original paintings of antique waterfowl decoy will be on display in the Massachusetts 2010 Waterfowl Stamp Exhibit at the Springfield Science Museum from Sept. 18 through Oct. 4.

The artworks were created for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s annual competition to design the stamp which hunters purchase to permit them to hunt waterfowl.  Proceeds from stamp purchases fund the acquisition and protection of wetlands essential to the life cycle of migratory waterfowl.

The Massachusetts stamp is the only waterfowl stamp in the country requiring the design to be of working decoys – ducks, geese or shorebirds – made by deceased Massachusetts decoy makers. The exhibit will include the winning artist’s work plus all other qualifying entries. The exhibit will also include 24 entries by students in grades K-12 who participated in the junior division competition. Also on display will be modern duck decoys and mounted specimens of waterfowl from the museum collections.

The exhibit is sponsored by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Ducks Unlimited.