Because of the current federal shutdown, $15,000 in already-awarded funding for our endangered species migration monitoring is on hold, with no guarantee when it will be released. That is money we depend on right now to keep tracking some of Indiana’s most vulnerable birds. Paused programs also mean a pause in the matching funds we rely on to stretch every dollar. This gap affects programs across the board, from our Lake Michigan migration surveys to Project Owlnet, where Northern Saw-whet Owls are now moving down the migration highway.
The timing could not be worse. With fall migration happening as we speak, we cannot stop this work, but without federal funds we are forced to run these programs at a deficit. Your support helps close that gap and keeps critical conservation science on track to determine how vulnerable species survive the challenges ahead.
We can’t wait for Washington to reopen. We need to act now.
If you’ve thought about making a gift, this week is when it matters most. Your donation will keep these programs running, protect vulnerable species, and keeps Indiana’s conservation moving ahead without interruption. If giving financially isn’t possible right now, you can still contribute in other ways. Learn more about other ways to give here.
