VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Volunteers are urgently needed to help ameliorate the effects of the massive oil spill that is heading toward the Gulf shores. Depending on wind and other conditions, the oil can be driven deeply into the Gulf shores area or the oil could enter the Gulf loop currents and be distributed along the west coast of Florida, around the tip of Florida, into the upper Keys and into the Gulf Stream where it could ultimately reach the shores of Europe and the UK.

At last report, the spill is covering an area the size of Puerto Rico and is growing larger by the minute, making this one of the worst environmental disasters ever to occur in US waters.

Audubon staff members in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida are now working with local officials and conservation colleagues to:
· recruit and coordinate volunteers,
· to keep well-meaning people out of harm’s way, and
· to monitor impacts and assure that protective measures are in place at fragile habitats—especially globally significant Important Bird Areas.

Staff members have received widespread media coverage, alerting the public of the threats to migratory and coastal birds as the oil heads for toward fragile shorelines. For hundreds species such as the Brown Pelican—just removed from the Endangered Species List, to other marsh and beach-nesting birds and a host of migratory species, the danger is very real. The need to act is urgent and a concerned public is looking to Audubon to lead the way.

Central to our response is to keep working the effective conservation plans already in place for the Gulf Region. Our efforts involve protecting and rebuilding healthy habitat that will become even more vital as other areas are damaged by oil. Our focus on Important Bird Areas will continue to guide us in protecting the habitats that imperiled species need most.

This is a very important effort requiring all available help, but the effort must be coordinated; please do not try to help without signing up with Audubon so that your talents and efforts can be put to use where they are most needed. Thank you in advance for your consideration and for your help.

For volunteer sign-up, visit: www.audubonaction.org/SpillResponse

To learn how to help, visit: www.audubonaction.org/howtohelp