In this issue: New Seabird Study, Arctic Refuge Drilling, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Rule, News from the Flyways, Climate Corner: Alaska Wildfires, and Your Actions at Work: Offshore Drilling
Last week, Audubon’s puffin expert Dr. Stephen Kress published an article in the Marine Ecology Press Series detailing 23 years of seabird diet data. This science outlines the impacts to seabirds when populations of forage fish species, their preferred prey, decline. Forage fish are small, schooling fish, like anchovies and sardines, that support the marine ecosystem. Read more.
Last week, the U.S. Department of the Interior released its decision to open the entire coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to development, a major step toward the first-ever oil drilling in the Refuge. On the same day, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would block drilling in this vital bird habitat. Read more and take action.
Coastal plain in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during autumn.
Earlier this week, legislation was introduced in Congress that would block the White House’s changes to the Endangered Species Act that weaken core provisions of the law. The new rules, announced last month, make it easier for economic considerations to shape decisions about whether species receive protection. Read more.
Last week the White House announced its final repeal of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, a 2015 law that protects wetlands—essential habitat for birds and other wildlife. This is the first step in a two-phase proposal by the Administration to repeal the previous rule, and replace it with a new rule that significantly weakens protections and makes more wetlands vulnerable to destruction. Read more.
In 2019 alone, Alaska has lost 2.5 million acres of forest to wildfires. Fires in Alaska have become more frequent and intense in recent years because climate change has created warmer, drier weather that makes boreal vegetation much more flammable. While occasional fires are healthy for many forest ecosystems, the magnitude and rate of recent fires has made it difficult for trees to repopulate certain areas and has led to significantly poorer air quality across Alaska. If no action is taken to mitigate climate change, numerous bird species will be at risk of losing important habitat as these intense fires may become the new normal. Read more.
Boreal Chickadee.
Your Actions at Work
Last week, more than 10,300 Audubon members like you urged their U.S. Representatives to pass two bills (HR 205 & HR 1941) that would permanently block new offshore drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico near Florida. The legislation was in response to a White House plan that would open practically all of the nation’s offshore waters to new drilling, putting hundreds of species of birds and numerous coastal communities in jeopardy. We are pleased to report that the House passed both bills with bipartisan votes. It’s now up to the Senate to take up this legislation, although we expect an uphill battle.
