NFWF contributes $2.5 million to protect migratory birds

The BP oil spill has left many animals in a sticky situation, with the inky cloud anticipated to hang over them for years to come. In the meantime, several environmental agencies are pooling their resources to aid the homeless animals.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is one such organization. The group recently announced it would be contributing $2.5 million to help provide critical wetland habitats for migratory birds affected by the disaster.

Though for humans, the warm summer months are just arriving, many birds and other migratory animals will begin to head south for the winter come July. Unbeknown to them, their natural habitats have been destroyed by millions of gallons of oil.

Fortunately for these birds, the NFWF will work together with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Ducks Unlimited to acquire and enhance thousands of acres on farms and other private lands in Louisiana and Texas for use as impromptu homes. The groups also plan to organize agricultural producers to create habitat areas for migrating animals.

The donation comes from the Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife, which was designated to support immediate actions to safeguard the species most at risk from the spill. The fund was created using BP’s share of the profits from oil recovered from the spill.

"Using resources from NFWF’s Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife, we can make an immediate difference for shorebirds, waterfowl, and marsh bird populations affected by the spill," said NFWF executive director Jeff Trandahl. "Through our collaboration with Ducks Unlimited, NRCS and others, we can put projects on the ground to benefit these species now."

The BP oil spill has brought out the philanthropic spirits of many environmentalists. In fact, so many people have offered to help clean there isn’t enough equipment to accommodate every volunteer, the Associated Press reports.

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