article thumbnail

National Wildlife Refuge Trivia:  What is PILT?  

10,000 Birds

National Wildlife Refuges protect critical habitat and provide some of the best birding locations in the United States. billion in PILT payments to 49 States (all but Rhode Island), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Since these payments began in 1977, the Department has distributed nearly $10.8

article thumbnail

The Gap Between Wildlife and the Animal Rights Movement

10,000 Birds

What I don’t understand is why animal rights organizations almost completely ignore wildlife. Habitat destruction and degradation is far and away the number one reason why wildlife populations are extirpated or go extinct. This makes perfect sense. There is nothing abstract or controversial about this. For example, when the U.S.

article thumbnail

The Case for Adding the U.S. Territories in the Caribbean to the ABA Area

10,000 Birds

I recently asked whether Puerto Rico should be part of the American Birding Association’s ABA Area. Both Puerto Rico and the USVI have active birding communities that are currently excluded from full membership in the ABA family. Although different territories, they are nearby and share many of the same birds.