Jan. 8, 2016 - Ducks Unlimited, the world's largest wetlands conservation organization, welcomes John Lindstrom as the new biologist for the state of Minnesota.

Lindstrom will deliver on-the-ground habitat conservation activities as part of DU's shallow lakes and prairie pothole programs in Minnesota. Lindstrom comes to Ducks Unlimited from a cooperative partnership between DU and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in North Dakota, where he helped with conservation easements on private land.

Lindstrom earned his bachelor of science degree with majors in fisheries and wildlife sciences from Valley City State University in Valley City, North Dakota, and is completing his master's of science degree in zoology with an emphasis on wildlife ecology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.

Minnesota is part of DU's 21-state Great Lakes/Atlantic Region. Doug Gorby, director of conservation programs for the region, said Lindstrom will be a great asset to identify projects in Minnesota with the greatest impact on breeding and migrating waterfowl, and then build partnerships to get the projects completed.

"We're excited to have John join our conservation staff," Gorby said. "He's a committed biologist with a passion for waterfowl."

Lindstrom was born and raised in Minnesota and is happy to return to his home state.

"Ducks Unlimited is an organization that I've looked up to since I was a little kid, hunting and fishing with my dad," he said. "Coming full circle and helping restore wetlands and grasslands is a dream come true."

Lindstrom will be based in Litchfield, Minnesota. Contact him at jlindstrom@ducks.org.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.