LITTLE ROCK — The BP oil spill prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allocate $3.3 million to Arkansas to expand and improve habitats for migratory birds.
“More than 50 million migratory birds traveling south will instinctively head toward the marshes and coastlands of the northern Gulf of Mexico,” said state conservationist Mike Sullivan in a statement Monday.
A BP deep-water drilling platform exploded in April, killing 11 workers and starting the oil spill. So far some 3.2 million barrels of oil has leaked.
“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,” he said.
The new funding is to be used to enhance the birds’ natural habitat, said Reginald Jackson, a state public-affairs specialist for the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“It’s not an incentive to hold the birds here but to make sure they’re healthy and have an enhanced habitat to go to,” Jackson said. “The birds are probably going to continue their migration south.”
Shallow water, mudflat and sandflat habitats will be created and improved with the money, a news release said.
The service will work with 30 counties in Arkansas to ensure better habitats for birds flying south.
“There are more than 30 species of birds traveling through the flyaway, which is the route the migratory birds travel to go down to the Gulf,” Jackson said.
He said that with help from this funding, the birds, including sandpipers, herons, ducks and gulls, will be attracted to places such as harvested rice fields and abandoned catfish farms.
“The catfish farms and rice fields in particular are suited for that kind of habitat because they are no longer in production, and they can be easily flooded and provide immediate habitat conditions,” Jackson said.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, chairman of the U.S. Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and one of two senators appointed to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, said in a statement that she applauded the USDA’s efforts.
“I am pleased that landowners and farmers throughout Arkansas will be able to utilize this funding to help provide safe habitats for migratory birds,” Lincoln said.
Sen. Mark Pryor shared similar sentiments.
“The BP oil spill is having a devastating effect on wildlife that depend on the Gulf Coast for their habitat,” Pryor said. “I hope farmers and landowners will take advantage of this opportunity and help provide migratory birds a safe haven.”
Arkansans interested in receiving funds to help enhance habitats for birds can apply at their USDA Service Center or find more information online at ar.nrcs.usda.gov.
Arkansas, Pages 8 on 06/30/2010