Thu, 06/05/2010
Reports of oil reaching the Chandeleur Islands mark the initial assault of the massive Gulf Oil Spill on the first of 25 recognised Important Bird Areas (IBAs) that line the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to south Florida. Designated by Audubon (BirdLife Partner) in conjunction with BirdLife International, the sites provide essential habitats to hundreds of species. South of Gulfport, Mississippi, the Chandeleurs are breeding habitat for Sandwich and Royal Terns, plus Brown Pelicans—only recently removed from the U.S. Endangered Species list and just beginning to bounce back.