Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas is expected to receive a $3.3 million federal grant to develop habitats for birds migrating south toward the oil-polluted Gulf of Mexico, according to Arkansas State Conservationist Mike Sullivan.

“With some marshes and shorelines already degraded and the potential for larger-scale oil impacts in the coming months, it is essential that we provide inland and coastal food, water, and cover for migratory birds before they reach the oil-impacted areas,” Sullivan said today.

Sullivan said creating and enhancing habitats in the Lower Mississippi Delta will encourage birds to spend less time at — or not even visit — the Gulf, where efforts to cap and clean up BP’s oil spill continue.

“Some may just spend the entire winter here, some may make their way on down to northern Louisiana and never make it to the Gulf, and then others may make it on down to the Gulf,” he said.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help the Natural Resources Conservation Service work with farmers, ranchers and other landowners to create or enhance shallow-water, mudflat and sandflat habitats for shorebirds and waterfowl.

Priority areas in Arkansas are in Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, White and Woodruff counties.

The sign-up period ends Aug. 1.

———-
On the Net:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/nrcs_migratory_birds.html