Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Delta Waterfowl Scientific Director Discusses Plans to Shortstop Migratory Waterfowl from Oil-fouled Wetlands
BP's Macondo well is capped--at least for now--and that's welcome relief to Gulf Coast residents who are grappling with the economic, environmental and emotional fallout from the largest oil spill in U.S. history.
But serious questions remain for the millions of migratory birds that will begin descending on or through the Gulf Coast beginning this month.
"The fact is, when blue-winged teal start to show up here in August, no one knows what they're going to find," said Delta Waterfowl Scientific Director Dr. Frank Rohwer, who is also a professor at Louisiana State University's School of Renewable Natural Resources. "We're in unchartered territory."
Over the last several weeks, two complimentary plans have emerged to "shortstop" ducks, geese and other migratory birds from oil-contaminated portions of the Gulf Coast.
In what has been characterized as an unprecedented attempt to alter migration routes, the federal government is spending more than $20 million on "alternative habitat" in eight states to attract southward-bound birds. The Natural Resources Conservation Service--an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture--will establish as much as 150,000 acres in states as far north as Missouri.
In addition, Ducks Unlimited recently received a $2.5 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The funds are being used to "flood alternative habitats" in the rice regions of coastal Louisiana and Texas.
(Delta Waterfowl Media Photo)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
+014.jpg)
