YOUR HELP NEEDED! By Voicing Your Support for H.R. 5756 -- One of the Most Important Pieces of Federal Bird Conservation Legislation Approximately 500 of the nearly 800 bird species in the U.S. are migratory birds, and they are at serious risk due to hemisphere-wide habitat loss caused by deforestation, development and other human hazards. Connecticut Audubon Society is an active member of the Bird Conservation Alliance that is advocating the passage of H.R. 5756. Introduced by Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), the "Act for Songbirds" provides for early reauthorization of the "Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act" (NMBCA) at considerably higher funding levels: from $6 million to $20 million by 2015. "NMBCA is the only federal U.S. grants program specifically dedicated to the conservation of our migrant birds that is available Americas-wide. It has a proven track-record of success, having supported 225 projects in 44 U.S. states/territories and 34 other countries since its inception in 2002. More than $21 million in NMBCA grants have leveraged over $97 million in required matching partner contributions." For more information -- and to access a form letter you can e-mail your U.S. Representatives urging them to co-sponsor this vital legislation – please visit: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5400/t/2205/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=284 The website is very easy to use- just enter your contact information, and it figures out which Congressperson to send the message to for you. It took me about 30 seconds! Good birding, Ken Ken Elkins Director of Education Connecticut Audubon Society 1 Milford Point Road Milford, CT 06460 203-878-7440 x503 (office) 860-559-0244 (cell) kelkins@ctaudubon.org  Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.