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Tom Duffy (right), Ducks Unlimited's first full-time biologist in Prince Edward Island, inspects a wetland with the province's DU board member, Carl Hansen.
New Ducks Unlimited Canada Employee to Help Landowners Conserve Wetlands 
Amherst NS, May 25 – Ducks Unlimited's first full-time employee in Prince Edward Island is looking forward to rolling up his sleeves and lending a hand to landowner partners interested in conserving habitat.
"There are lots of opportunities here," said Tom Duffy, DU's new provincial habitat biologist as of May 1. "Islanders are very aware of the province's environmental issues and they want to conserve habitat where they can. We've got a lot of agricultural landscapes where our programs will directly benefit wetlands and associated habitats."
Duffy grew up on a beef farm just east of Charlottetown. He graduated from Holland College's environmental technology program and he has a degree in biology from Acadia University. He started his career in waterfowl and wetland management as a wetlands technician with the provincial government where he worked for 11 years. Prior to joining DU, he was the province's program manager of the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture. The joint venture is part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan that supports a number of habitat conservation programs in Prince Edward Island. This plan is supported by government wildlife agencies in Canada, the United States and Mexico and private organizations like Ducks Unlimited to sustain waterfowl populations.
Duffy has actively volunteered with Ducks Unlimited on the Charlottetown fundraising committee and as chair of the committee responsible for DU's annual Greenwing youth education day. "When we started our Greenwing event in Charlottetown in 1991, a handful of people showed up," Duffy said. "For the past six years, attendance at the event is running at around 100 people."
With his outstanding record as a volunteer, extensive experience with the province's agricultural community and his established relationship with the government, Duffy is a great asset to Ducks Unlimited according to his supervisor, Mark Gloutney, who is manager of DU's conservation programs in Atlantic Canada.
"We've been working with Tom very closely over the past few years," Gloutney said from DU's Amherst office. "He comes to us with a very good understanding of Prince Edward Island's people and the issues specific to wetlands and waterfowl."
In his new position, Duffy will offer landowners technical and financial assistance with soil conservation techniques and other wetland conservation initiatives that include developing water supplies for livestock, rejuvenating wetlands overgrown with vegetation, and using wetlands for livestock wastewater treatment. His Charlottetown office is in the Jones Building at 11 Kent Street. His phone number is (902) 368-4667.
Ducks Unlimited Canada is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands for waterfowl, other wildlife and people. Since DU started working in the province 30 years ago, $6.3 million has been invested to conserve 8,829 acres of wetland and associated habitat. P.E.I.'s wetlands help to improve water quality for drinking, cooking and cleaning and they provide critical wildlife and fisheries habitat. For more information contact: Tom Duffy, Habitat biologist, Prince Edward Island, (902) 368-4667.
