1999 Iowa Habitat Stamp

"When I designed the 1999 Iowa Habitat Stamp I first painted the two roosters and the foreground. While considering options for the background I happened across an image of Old Rivals II. I decided to use the same setting including the same two bucks, but give it a slightly wider perspective and change it to a snowy, winter scene. The main subject in the 1999 Iowa Habitat Stamp, the ring-necked pheasant, was introduced to Iowa about 1900. Though originally from Asia, it has since become Iowa’s most important gamebird and Iowa is one of the top pheasant harvest states in the nation. Pheasants thrive on Iowa’s rich farmland as long as appropriate habitat is available. Severe winters and very cool, wet conditions during spring and early summer can cause population declines. Pheasants prefer to nest in hayfields, oat fields, pastures, idle areas, wetlands, and road ditches. Delaying mowing of pheasant nesting cover can greatly improve nesting success. Tall grasses and forbs without overhea