Grants Will Expand Habitat for Birds Migrating to the Gulf

First posted on 06-29-2010

Arkansas and Missouri will be receiving grants from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that are intended to assist landowners in developing and enhancing habitats for birds migrating south to the Gulf of Mexico. Arkansas will receive about $3.3 million and Missouri, $1.9 million.

The money is to help provide food, water and cover for migrating birds before they reach the oil-impacted areas along the Gulf, the wintering grounds for many species.

According to Arkansas State Conservationist Mike Sullivan, “More than 50 million migratory birds traveling south in coming months will instinctively head toward the marshes and coastlands of the northern Gulf of Mexico. 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.”

An emphasis will be placed on creating or improving habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl, including shallow water, mudflat, and sandflat habitats. Agricultural lands containing wetlands, like catfish farms and rice fields, are especially well-suited to the initiative. The NRCS has identified over 150,000 acres across eight states that it feels could be made into appropriate habitat areas.

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.

“We expect there will be great interest from our farmers and ranchers who want to do something positive to help the migrating birds – not only this fall, but next spring and in subsequent years as well,” said Sullivan.

Missouri State Conservationist J.R. Flores indicated that “Missouri is the northernmost state taking part in this initiative, and so we have the first opportunity to make sure that the migrating birds have food, water and cover before they move farther south.” Flores said. He estimates the first migratory birds could reach the state by August.

Flores said the priority areas in Missouri include the following counties: In central and western Missouri—Bates, Vernon, Lafayette, Johnson, Saline, Cooper, Moniteau and Cole; in southeastern Missouri – Bollinger, Scott, Mississippi, Stoddard, Butler, New Madrid, Dunklin, Ripley, Cape Girardeau and Pemiscot.

The sign-up for the initiative will be until August 1. Interested producers should contact their local USDA Service Center for additional information. More information is also available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/nrcs_migratory_birds.html

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