BP Oil Spill Threatens Florida Birds, Volunteer to Help

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has birders and wildlife lovers all over Florida very worried. If efforts to halt the oil slick fail and winds shift the slick toward South Florida, the oil could harm birds, coastal marshes and mangroves. There are a number of things volunteers can do to help out.

The Audubon Society reports that volunteers can provide valuable information for the response and recovery efforts by reporting birds that they see on the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico on eBird. The website is a real-time bird checklist that is monitored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Volunteers can also add their name, address, telephone and email address to Audubon's rescue volunteer registry. Volunteers will be called if the oil slick lands on Florida's beaches. Audubon will connect local members of the volunteer registry with response leaders. Sign up here.

Or sign a petition calling on President Obama, Florida Governor Crist and other public officials to drop proposals to expand oil and gas exploration near Florida's coastal areas. Sign petition here.

Let's all do our part to protect the precious natural resources, bird habitat and wildlife of South Florida.