Brown Pelican
Audubon is working closely with the government, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and other organizations to respond to the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Hundreds of volunteers from local Audubon chapters in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas that may be affected have volunteered to assist in monitoring and cleanup efforts. Learn how you can help at the Audubon Action Center Web site.
You can find information on the oil leak itself and its effects on birds and wildlife at the Audubon oil spill information Web site and the Audubon oil spill blog. You can register to volunteer on the Audubon volunteer Web page. You can show your support for cleanup efforts by taking actions such as supporting Audubon's call for cleanup funding. And of course, all of these efforts cost money, so you can donate online to support Audubon's work in the Gulf.
While we all want to help, Audubon urges you to volunteer and participate though coordinated, organizational efforts, such as the Audubon volunteer campaign. Simply showing up in an affected area is not productive. Well-meaning efforts to help may cause more harm than good to nesting birds and wildlife habitats, and untrained volunteers may be exposed to dangerous chemicals and other hazards.
At this time, there is only so much that volunteers can do. So please register, make a contribution, follow Audubon's efforts, and be prepared to help when the time is right.
