Rollback of Bird Protections Delayed | Lawsuit to Protect Wetlands

In this issue: Largest Public Land Giveaway in U.S., 2021 Virtual Town Hall, Rollback of Migratory Bird Protections Delayed, Audubon Sues to Protect Mississippi Flyway Wetlands Trouble viewing this e-mail? Try our [web version](. [National Audubon Society]( ADVISORY February 2021 [Two Whooping Cranes taking flight.]( [Rollback of Migratory Bird Protections Delayed]( Encouraging news: The rollback of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) that was set to take effect February 8 has been delayed. The rule change—which would dramatically weaken the century-old MBTA—is being fully reassessed by the U.S. Department of the Interior and a public comment period is now open until March 1. Act now to help ensure critical bird protections will be reinstated. [Read more and take action]( Whooping Cranes. [Prothonotary Warbler.]( [Audubon Sues to Protect Mississippi Flyway Wetlands]( Audubon and other conservation organizations have filed a federal lawsuit to uphold a Clean Water Act veto that has protected some of the richest wetland and aquatic resources in the nation since 2008. Revocation of these protections would result in the draining of the Yazoo Backwater Area, which includes tens of thousands of acres of hemispherically significant wetlands. [Read more]( Prothonotary Warbler. [The Chistochina River within the East Alaska Resource Management Plan area.]( [Largest Public Land Giveaway in U.S. Underway in Alaska]( In early January, the Bureau of Land Management issued a public lands order opening up 9.4 million acres to mining, oil, and gas exploration in Alaska’s Kobuk Seward Peninsula, an area with important cultural, subsistence, recreational, and wildlife resources. This land transfer is just one of many happening throughout Alaska in what is being called “the largest public land giveaway in the U.S.” [Read more]( The Chistochina River within the East Alaska Resource Management Plan area. [Northern Flicker.]( [2021 Virtual Town Hall]( Watch a recording of our Town Hall to learn more about what we anticipate in the first 100 days of the new administration and our top priorities for protecting birds and the places they need in the year to come. [Watch the recording]( Northern Flicker. News from the Flyways - [Alaska: Take Action—Support New Legislation to Restore Protections to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]( - [Arizona: Climate Change is Driving Water Scarcity Across the West]( - [California: Habitat Restoration Project Breaks Ground at Southern End of Salton Sea]( - [Colorado: Water Priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session]( - [Florida: Audubon and Partners Launch Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Initiative]( - [Illinois: Clean Energy Jobs Act Will Provide a Healthier Future for Birds]( - [Indiana: New Legislation Poses a Serious Threat to Wetlands and Bird Habitat]( - [New Mexico: Priorities for 2021 Legislative Session]( - [New York: Audubon Urges Support of Historic Funding Levels for the Environment]( - [Western Water: Moving Forward Policies Rooted in Science]( Impact Updates [Ruby-crowned Kinglet with insect in beak.]( [Climate Corner]( On January 27, President Biden signed a series of executive orders and memorandums aimed at combatting climate change, conserving and restoring our public lands and waters, and incorporating social justice into the federal government’s efforts to protect the environment. Among the new actions was the creation of a council to coordinate climate efforts across the federal government, including matters of climate injustices and national security within federal agencies. [Read more]( Ruby-crowned Kinglet. [Piping Plover foraging in sand.]( [Your Actions at Work]( After eight years of effort by thousands of Audubon advocates in the northeast region and beyond, a bipartisan bill was signed in late December that prevents the government from selling Plum Island at auction. Located at the eastern end of Long Island Sound, Plum Island is a key breeding and stopover site for thousands of birds, including at-risk and priority species like the Roseate Tern and Piping Plover. Until now, this ecological treasure was at risk of being lost to development. [Read more]( Piping Plover. Photos from top: Elaine Brackin/Audubon Photography Awards, Susan Gregory/Audubon Photography Awards, Luc Mehl, Sheen Watkins/Audubon Photography Awards, Josh Graham/Audubon Photography Awards (left), Merri Lee Metzger/Audubon Photography Awards (right) [Join the Audubon Action Network]( Join our Action Network to receive periodic action alerts that connect you with decision makers when your voice matters the most. CONNECT WITH US [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn]( [YouTube]( [DONATE]( [ADVOCATE]( National Audubon Society 225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014 USA [(844) 428-3826](#) | [audubon.org]( © 2021 National Audubon Society, Inc. [Update your email address or unsubscribe](