2013 Nevada Duck Stamp – Rebekah Nastav
Missouri artist Rebekah Nastav has been named the winner of the 2013 Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest. Her winning entry featuring a snow goose standing on the shore will now grace Nevada’s 2013-2014 State Duck Stamp.
The contest, sponsored by the Nevada Waterfowl Association and sanctioned by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), drew a total of 17 entries from 15 states. All of the winning entries can be viewed on the NDOW website at www.ndow.org/wild/stamp/.
The winning entry in the annual art contest was selected by a panel of seven judges including two Nevada Wildlife Commissioners.
“It was great to find out that my artwork will grace the 2013 Nevada duck stamp and be seen by many duck stamp collectors,” said Nastav, who finished fourth in last year’s contest.
This is not the first time that Nastav has enjoyed success from her art having also claimed the 2006-2007 Federal Junior Duck Stamp contest (FJDS), the 2008 and 2009 Missouri contest for the FJDS and the 75th Anniversary Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program art contest.
The subject of this year’s contest was the snow goose. A North American species of goose, its name derives from the typically white plumage. Snow geese that migrate through Nevada are part of the Western Arctic Population of Lesser Snow Geese. The snow goose has two color plumage morphs, white (snow) or gray/blue (blue), thus the common description as “snows” and “blues.” White-morph birds are white except for black wing tips, but blue-morph geese have bluish-grey plumage replacing the white except on the head, neck and tail tip. Both snow and blue phases have rose-red feet and legs, and pink bills with black edges.
“Their white feathers allow for great lighting techniques. I enjoyed the challenge of creating texture and shadows on an animal that is one solid color. I also love the bird’s noble stance,” said Nastav.
The Nevada Duck Stamp sells for $10 and is required to be purchased by any person who hunts migratory birds in Nevada. Stamps can also be purchased by collectors and the general public to support Nevada wildlife and habitat conservation efforts. A limited number of Conservation Edition prints may also be issued, and are available for fundraising for wildlife-related and other conservation organizations.
