You might want to drop in on the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Oversight Hearing…

The House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans will hear from experts including American Bird Conservancy’s Vice President for International Programs Dr. George Wallace and others to further investigate the factors affecting stressed bird populations and bird habitats, and to explore possible policy options to address the situation.

Subject: House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Oversight Hearing on “Going, Going, Gone? An Assessment of the Global Decline in Bird Populations”
When: Thursday, July 10, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Room 1334 Longworth House Office Building, Washington D.C.

According to Alicia Frances King of American Bird Conservancy:

Dr. Wallace’s testimony will outline the many threats to migratory and resident birds, and ways these threats can be mitigated. He will call special attention to the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act and its proven track record in funding conservation efforts that have benefited hundreds of migratory species throughout the hemisphere. ABC and a coalition of members of the Bird Conservation Alliance are asking for an increase in funding for this key program to better serve the needs of declining bird populations.

The Bird Conservation Alliance, led by ABC, appears to be putting a lot of effort into making this legislation happen. E-mails from their Act for Songbirds campaign were sent to Representatives asking that they cosponsor a bill put forward by Representatives Kind and Gilchrest (HR 5756) that will reauthorize the Act at significantly higher funding levels. FYI – it’s not too late to send one yourself.

If you’ll be in the nation’s capital or are looking for an excuse to visit, supporters are invited to attend the hearing.  Having people present at the hearing helps emphasize the importance of the issue of declining bird populations. If you can’t attend, you can still enjoy a live webcast of the hearing.