• The Gulf Coast is one of DU's five highest-priority conservation areas in North America and a mainstay for wintering waterfowl, supporting more than 13 million ducks & geese in some years.
• While the potential exists for the oil spill to have both short- and long-term consequences for habitat, waterfowl and other wildlife on the Gulf Coast, DU's focus remains on the long-term loss of Louisiana coastal marshes that has been underway for decades and threatens this vital ecosystem.
• If the spill continues for additional weeks or months, numerous shorebirds, waterfowl and other wetland wildlife will be at serious risk.
• The earliest fall migrants (several species of shorebirds) are expected to arrive on the Gulf Coast in mid-July, and the earliest waterfowl migrants (adult male blue-winged teal) will arrive in mid-August.
• DU will monitor any long-term effects of the oil spill on these wintering grounds for millions of migratory waterfowl.
• Important wintering waterfowl species include gadwall, green-winged teal, northern pintails, American wigeon, northern shovelers, mallards, blue-winged teal, lesser scaup, canvasbacks and redheads. More about these waterfowl species >>
• Locally breeding mottled duck populations using fresh and intermediate salinity marshes may also be affected, but it is too early to tell if these birds will be impacted.

More information

• DU's Oil Spill Resource Center
• DU's Gulf Coastal Prairie Conservation Initiative
• Dr. Tom Moorman's letter on DU's work on the Gulf Coast
• Louisiana Coast: Here today, gone tomorrow