HARTFORD, Conn. — A new bill in Congress would bring millions of dollars to help at-risk wildlife in Connecticut.

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act, introduced with bipartisan support in the House last Friday, would send $1.3 billion of general revenue each year to states for implementation of Wildlife Action Plans. For Connecticut, that could mean about $12.5 million per year to help at-risk bird species and other wildlife.

Patrick Comins, executive director of the Connecticut Audubon Society, called it the most important legislative initiative he's seen in his 30 years as a conservationist.

"It would provide a steady and increased source of funding for wildlife conservation, wildlife research, wildlife habitat management, even education related to wildlife,” Comins said.

Comins said populations of many bird species are declining and are now vulnerable, including federally threatened piping plovers, blue-winged warblers and Connecticut's most endangered bird, the saltmarsh sparrow.

"It's a small bird that lives near the coastal marshes, and it actually nests right on the ground in the higher portions of the marshes,” he said. “And so, it's actually been having some serious problems with even small levels of sea level rise."

Experts say rising sea levels have put saltmarsh sparrows on a path to extinction within the next 50 years.

A bill to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund now is pending in the Senate. Comins said passing that bill and the Recovering America's Wildlife Act would be the biggest news for wildlife conservation in living memory.

"With Land and Water Conservation Fund, we could protect critical habitat. And then with the Recovering America's Wildlife Act we could appropriately manage them and also better understand what the areas that are most important to protect are,” he said.

He added wildlife conservation benefits all Americans and is an issue that should transcend partisan divisions.


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Minnesota bird enthusiasts should keep their binoculars handy. April is a good month to spot various species migrating back to the region. Experts have tips on making it easier for them to settle in.

A good place to start for "birding" during spring migration is the Mississippi River corridor, a key flyway for birds traveling between their winter and summer homes. In the greater Duluth area, folks might also notice a lot of raptors, such as hawks and eagles, this time of year.

Monica Bryand, executive director of the Urban Bird Collective in the Twin Cities, considers this a worthwhile and fun activity.

"I've only been a birder for over 20 years, and I didn't realize what was out there until somebody took me birding," she said, "and, of course, now I'm just absolutely hooked."

As birds fan out across the state, Bryand says residents can do their part to keep obstacles and threats out of the way. That includes limiting backyard time for outdoor cats. And since birds tend to migrate at night, dimming or turning off outdoor lights is helpful, so long as personal safety isn't compromised. Applying window treatments such as films with UV patterns reduces bird strikes.

The latest State of the Birds report from national science and conservation groups is out, showing continued population declines, especially for grassland birds.

Bob Dunlap, a zoologist and data specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said that aligns with his research.

"We're down to 1% or less of the original prairie in Minnesota," he said, "and over time, that's definitely going to take a toll on these birds that do need grasslands to survive."

Researchers, along with the nonprofit Friends of the Mississippi River, have noted that habitat restoration has allowed species such as the Henslow's sparrow to see a turnaround. Meanwhile, Dunlap encouraged birders to use the "e-Bird" app when they're out. He called a reliable tool for citizen scientists to enter sightings.

"And so, the more data we have," he said, "the better to keep track of some of these trends."

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has introduced a bill to remove gray wolves from the list of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

The measure would also prohibit any challenges to the law in court.

Jewel Tomasula, national policy director for the Endangered Species Coalition, said H.R. 845 is essentially recycled legislation.

"The bill would reinstate a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisting decision issued in November of 2020, the end of the first Trump administration," Tomasula explained. "This was overturned in court because the Fish and Wildlife Service did not use the best available science, among other serious errors."

The move comes as President Donald Trump and allies have accused federal courts of trying to overtake the executive branch's authority by blocking a number of executive orders.

After being hunted and poisoned to near extinction, the return of the gray wolf to the Lower 48 states is widely viewed as one of America's greatest conservation success stories. The livestock industry, which has overtaken large swaths of historic wolf habitat for grazing, has opposed protections citing concerns about predation.

A separate bill aims to put the brakes on getting species listed as endangered, speed up the delisting process and remove guardrails meant to prevent species from becoming extinct.

Kaitie Schneider, Colorado wolf representative for Defenders of Wildlife, said preventing the loss of keystone species like gray wolves is important for maintaining ecosystem viability and resilience in the face of a changing climate.

"We know that it's better not to lose that piece of the puzzle to begin with," Schneider stressed. "But it's critically important to put it back where we can. Keeping our ecosystems intact and restoring native species is not only important for us, but for our future generations too."

Nine in 10 Democrats and eight in 10 Republicans support the Endangered Species Act. And 84% of Americans support returning wolves to suitable landscapes in the Lower 48.

Schneider noted states like Colorado are showing wolves and people can coexist.

"If these bills and efforts to delist wolves from the Endangered Species Act federally do go through, that's not going to stop the wolf reintroduction to Colorado," Schneider asserted. "Because the voters of Colorado decided that this is a priority for our state. That's going to continue."

A coalition of conservationists and tribal nations is pushing for support of the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative by state officials in Olympia.

The Initiative is a project to remove the lower Snake River dams while maintaining current irrigation, transportation, energy, and recreation services. It focuses on restoring salmon runs and supporting the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Gabriel Newton, a competitive kayaker, artist and conservationist, will draw attention to the plight of the Orcas next week. He said protecting them means protecting all living things.

"It's incredibly important," Newton stressed. "Every time a thread in the web of life is broken, our own capacity to thrive is diminished. Orcas and famine are very integral threads. Newton said the trip could be challenging."

Newton will paddle 65 miles from Seattle to Olympia. He plans to meet with Gov. Bob Ferguson and present 500 signed cards seeking his support. Former Gov. Jay Inslee endorsed the Initiative but Ferguson, who took office in January, has yet to take a position.

The initiative was initially proposed by a group called the "Six Sovereigns," including the tribes of the Yakama Nation, Umatilla Indian Reservation, Warm Springs Reservation, Nez Perce and the states of Oregon and Washington. Newton acknowledged the kayak trip could be challenging.

"It would be an easy run in the summer but March is one of the windiest months of the year on Puget Sound, and it tends to be wind from the south," Newton explained. "I can expect a headwind most of the way, and depending on the strength of the wind, it could be treacherous or mildly annoying."

Newton will also be one of the artists featured at "An Evening of Art and Poetry," on March 26 in Olympia. The event is sponsored by the Endangered Species Coalition, Save our Wild Salmon, Braided River, Washington Conservation Action, and the Sierra Club.


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