In the five years since the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster, Audubon has expanded its network of staff and volunteers at Gulf coastal bird habitats resulting in greater protection for nesting birds. 

As oil headed toward the coast, thousands of people volunteered to help with the recovery. Five years later, many of those same citizens continue to volunteer to protect and monitor nesting shorebirds and Important Bird Areas.  

While oil on the shore is no longer a major issue, threats to coastal birds remain. Human-amplified populations of predators, human disturbance, fishing line, tropical storms, and erosion all contribute to losses. Audubon’s bird stewards monitor and guard nesting sites to give baby birds a fighting chance at survival. 

Audubon’s network of more than 1000 volunteers, citizen scientists, and staff help protect more than 130 coastal bird sites in Florida, including several Globally Important Bird Areas. Hundreds of thousands of baby birds, including Brown Pelicans, Least Terns, and Snowy Plovers, have hatched at these sites since the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster.

“Gulf birds face so many threats to their nesting as a result of humans, they need our help to succeed,” said Eric Draper, Audubon Florida executive director. “That’s why it’s so important that people give their time to monitor and protect these coastal nesting sites.”

With no tropical storms and devoted protection from land managers and volunteers, Black Skimmers had a great year in 2014. More than 1,200 young birds took flight from Florida’s southwest beaches, increasing the state’s estimated population by as much as 30%.

Researchers have tracked birds hatched in Florida to other parts of the Gulf Coast and vice versa. Success in Florida is crucial to the Gulf’s bird populations, especially because other states continue to suffer from the devastating impacts of oil on the shore. Florida remains a vital part of the larger Gulf Coast Ecosystem.

Taking care of coastal birds and their habitat is just one part of the spill response. More can be done to protect coastal water and wildlife. Florida needs a comprehensive plan for dealing with all of the Gulf’s restoration needs.

“Audubon urges Governor Rick Scott follow through on crafting a Gulf Ecosystem Plan that prioritizes using penalties paid by BP to improve coastal habitat,” added Draper.    

Citizens interested in helping restore the Gulf are encouraged to participate in their local county RESTORE committees, attend an Audubon bird steward training, or join a scheduled fishing line clean-up event later this year.

For more information, please download Audubon’s five year Gulf Restoration report here: http://bit.ly/1Oxuf9Y