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OIL DRILLING DISASTER IN THE GULF: YOUR HELP NEEDED!
Dear Audubon Advocate,
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Birds in Trouble
A number of species are prompting special concern, including the Brown Pelican — just removed from the Endangered Species List, and beach-nesting terns and gulls (Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Least Tern, Laughing Gull, Black Skimmer) and shorebirds (American Oystercatcher, Wilson's Plover, Snowy Plover).
The coastal Reddish Egret, large wading birds (Roseate Spoonbill, Ibises, Herons, Egrets), and marsh birds (Mottled Duck, Clapper Rail, Black Rail, Seaside Sparrow, Marsh-Dwelling Songbirds) are all threatened as well.
Already, ocean-dwelling birds may be affected, like the Magnificent Frigatebird, should they come in contact with the oil.
Migratory shorebirds (plovers, sandpipers and relatives) and migratory songbirds (warblers, orioles, buntings, flycatchers, swallows, and others) may find their landing places despoiled by oil.
See Oil Spill: Wildlife at Risk, New York Times.
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The tragic oil platform explosion off Louisiana’s
Gulf Coast is rapidly becoming an environmental disaster.1
The loss of 11 oil workers may be just the beginning
of this tragedy as millions of gallons of oil head for land, putting birds,
wildlife and the coastal environment in grave danger.
Audubon
Mobilizing to Help
Audubon staff across the country are marshalling resources and personnel to respond to the looming disaster. Audubon Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi staff and chapters are working to prepare for impacts to birds, wildlife and important habitat as the spill makes its way toward land.
Audubon is coordinating volunteer efforts and you
can help! From cleaning oiled birds (requires proper training) to counting birds to picking up trash on beaches before the oil hits — there
are many things that you can do to help. If you are interested
in volunteering, please sign up here. We will be back in touch soon with
more details.
While every hand is needed and welcome, it's vital
that volunteers offer their help through coordinated
efforts like this so that the greatest good can be focused where
it is needed the most. Please avoid going to affected areas or handling wildlife
until you are part of coordinated responses. Even well-intentioned people
can inadvertently interfere with important recovery efforts.
Audubon has our people on the ground and is working
with state and federal agencies leading the response — we
can help find the best volunteer job for you.
Let's Stop Further Spills
 If you have not already submitted comments on the Interior Department plan to expand offshore oil and gas drilling, now is the time.
A long-term energy strategy should focus on clean, job-producing, renewable technologies,
not expanded drilling off our sensitive coasts.
1 "Size of Spill in Gulf of Mexico Larger than Thought," New York Times, 4/29/10
Do you know someone else who cares about protecting America's beaches, birds and wildlife? Help us to spread the word:
 Tell-a-friend!
Trouble with the "Take Action" link in the message? Try cutting-and-pasting
this link into your web browser: www.audubonaction.org/site/Advocacy?id=823.
To get to the volunteer page, use this link: www.audubonaction.org/SpillResponse.
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