For years, Washington, D.C., hosted the Federal Duck Stamp Contest, which typically attracts nearly 300 competitors. The past two years, the judging was held in Memphis. This year it moves to tiny Sanibel Island to celebrate 75 years of stamps.

When U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service personnel began planning for the judging of the 75th Federal Duck Stamp, administrators and friends at the ''Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Refuge lobbied to move it to Sanibel Island, of which the refuge occupies more than half.

The refuge is named for Jay Norwood ''Ding'' Darling, who, as chief of the U.S. Biological Survey -- the precursor to the Fish & Wildlife Service -- saw the duck stamp program into law. As a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist for the Des Moines Register, he designed the first duck stamp in 1934.

''We had to pull more than a few strings to get the contest here,'' said Jim Sprankle, president of the ''Ding'' Darling Wildlife Society and a former Duck Stamp Contest judge. ``But here is where it belongs.''

Artists choose from five waterfowl to portray for the stamp. This year's choices: Mallard, American Green-winged Teal, Pintail, Canvasback, and Harlequin Duck.

EVENTS

• Duck Stamp Day, Oct. 12. Wildlife Drive, usually closed on Fridays, will be open to bikers and hikers ($1 each but free admission with a current Duck Stamp), and special tram tours will be available.

• Wildlife art auction, Oct. 12. Prizes include submissions from Duck Stamp winners past, an original etching by Ding Darling and other collectible wildlife art.

• Duck Stamp Judging, Oct. 12-13. Open to the public, which also will be able to view entries at BIG ARTS' Phillips Gallery from Sept. 25 through Oct. 20.

• Family Fun Day, Oct. 14. Free refuge tram tours, live animal presentations with David Hitzig from Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, the opportunity to meet the current duck stamp artist, a butterfly house and more.

INFORMATION: www.dingdarlingdays.com, 239-472-1100 or www.fws.gov/duckstamp75.