On a bi-partisan basis, a rarity these days, the US House passed a bill to enhance protection for migratory birds in the Americas and their habitat. It reauthorizes funding for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act programs. ;According to Audubon's chief conservation officer, three billion birds have been lost since 1970. At the same time, interest in bird-watching has increased enormously. Ninety-six billion Americans engage in bird watching, contributing about $100 billion to the economy. ;The Senate has a similar bill pending passage.
Since 2002 the NMBCA has funded 700 programs in thirty-five Western Hemisphere countries. These programs benefit 250 bird species that utilize 5 million acres of habitat. Migration is arduous for birds that need stopovers, nesting and feeding grounds to support their lifestyle. Humans need to support them in drastically altered environments.