When most people find out they have won a contest, they are surprised. Artist Sherrie Russell Meline was no different.

When she was notified that her painting of a Great Basin Canada goose had been selected the winner of Nevada Department of Wildlife's 30th annual State Duck Stamp Art Contest, she was stunned -- but that was because she had forgotten she had entered the contest in the first place.

"I had just returned from a show-vacation in Las Vegas, and when I got home and read my e-mail, I was absolutely shocked. I had forgotten I had sent the piece in. I am so excited and honored," said Meline.

The winning entry in the annual art contest was selected by a panel of seven judges including two wildlife commissioners. Her painting will now grace the Nevada's 2009-2010 State Duck Stamp.

Meline is no stranger to the Nevada Duck Stamp art contest, having also won in 1987 and 1999. Since starting her work on duck stamps in 1983, she reports that her work has been featured on 30 duck stamps. Her paintings have been on stamps in Idaho, Arizona, California and Texas. Meline was also featured on the Federal Duck Stamp in 2006.

The subject of this year's contest is the Great Basin Canada goose, a subspecies of the Canada goose. The Great Basin Canada goose winters in significant numbers at Nevada's wetlands, which are on the Pacific Flyway.

Meline reports that she was very excited when the department announced the subject for the art contest. "It's my favorite species. It is such a beautiful, majestic looking bird with a gorgeous face," she said.

The contest was sponsored by the Nevada Waterfowl Association and sanctioned by the department.

This year there were 27 entries to the contest, with the winner and nine runners-up put on display at the Nevada Waterfowl Association's November fundraising banquet in Fallon.

The Nevada Duck Stamp sells for $10 and is required to be purchased by any person who hunts migratory birds in Nevada.

Stamps can also be purchased by collectors and the general public to support Nevada wildlife and habitat conservation efforts.

A limited number of prints may also be issued, and are available for fundraising for wildlife-related and other conservation organizations.