[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E79]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE 5TH ANNUAL ``CALIFORNIA DUCK DAYS''

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. VIC FAZIO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 1998

  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special 
tribute to an event in my district that has become one of the premier 
wildlife festivals in the United States. In the short span of five 
years, ``California Duck Days'' has grown from a small, community-based 
event to a large, regional festival offering a wide range of activities 
including field trips, workshops, lectures, family and youth 
activities, and, for the first time ever, a large Exposition Hall which 
includes educational displays, vendor booths, and demonstrations about 
wetlands and wildlife.
  This year, ``Duck Days'' is co-hosted by the California Waterfowl 
Association, and it coincides with the Sacramento Valley's peak 
migration period for hundreds of thousands of waterfowl moving south on 
the Pacific Flyway. ``Duck Days'' showcases the wonders and diversity 
of our region's wetlands and it serves both to increase public 
awareness and to promote education about the importance of wetlands and 
wildlife.
  Last fall, the community, and many of this year's ``Duck Days'' 
participants, braved the cold and rain to successfully dedicate the 
opening of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. We were joined that day by 
President Clinton who noted that ``there is no challenge facing this 
country that we cannot meet, if we will just do what you have done 
here.'' The 3700 acre wetlands area that constitutes the Yolo Bypass 
Wildlife Area is the largest wetlands area in the western United States 
and ``California Duck Days'' is a continuation and expansion of the 
many partnerships that created the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. The 
president's message, which stressed the power of collaboration, 
continues to be highlighted by the growing successes of the ``Duck 
Days'' celebrations.
  With over 60 participating organizations, ``Duck Days'' is proof that 
individuals and organizations can work together to give thousands of 
people, young and old, the opportunity to experience these wild places, 
learn about them, and share their experiences with others. I commend 
the successful model of the Yolo Basin Foundation to my colleagues and 
extend the congratulations of the House of Representatives to the 
organizers and participants of 1998's ``California Duck Days'' 
festival.

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