[CT Birds] Bird Seed Tax

[COMINS, Patrick]

There is currently an unprecedented opportunity to increase funding for DEP in CT, including for the Wildlife Division, within existing funding streams.  Thanks in large part to the many letters/emails/calls from Mansfield and New Haven area birders, a $4.5 M increase for the DEP is in the current State appropriations budget.  This will have tremendous benefits for birds in CT if it survives the rest of the budget process and the governor's pen, but additional support will be needed in the coming weeks to make sure that happens.

Additional current opportunities include the Face of Connecticut, which would increase funding for open space and specific opportunities for funding for the Stewart B. McKinney NWR and the Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in CT (and a large addition to Barn Island WMA).  Stay tuned for important action alerts in the coming weeks if open space protection and wildlife funding are important to you.  There are some really exciting conservation opportunities out there right now.

Patrick  Comins, Meriden