Gulf oil spill victim It was a sad and tragic end to Earth Month: In what’s probably the worst oil spill in U.S. history, the rupture of the Deepwater Horizon rig now threatens hundreds of species of fish, birds, and wildlife and the livelihood of thousands of people who depend on a healthy coastal environment.

Many of you have been contacting us to find out what EarthShare and its member charities are doing in the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill so you can get involved. To help you out, we’ve compiled a handy list of reputable links and resources from our members offering different ways you can make this tragedy a little easier for the affected wildlife and coastal communities.

This is just the beginning of what’s sure to be an extensive and ongoing response to the Gulf oil spill from our nation’s conservation organizations. After the cleanup, these nonprofits will need your continued support for the restoration efforts that will follow.

Make your voice heard in the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill.

With the Gulf oil spill serving as a grim reminder about the inherent risks connected with this energy resource, many of EarthShare’s charities are offering easy ways for you to speak up for safer, cleaner energy:

• Oceana // Stop the Drill
• Surfrider Foundation // Not the Answer
• National Audubon Society // Support Full Funding for Coastal Louisiana Restoration
• National Wildlife Federation // Take Action for Climate & Clean Energy Legislation
• The Wilderness Society // No More Oil Disasters
• Defenders of Wildlife // Ban Dangerous Offshore Drilling
• Friends of the Earth // Stop the Drilling
• Union of Concerned Scientists // It's Time for America to Choose Cleaner Energy

Stay up-to-date on Gulf oil spill developments.

Many of our member groups are blogging, tweeting and otherwise chronicling the Gulf oil spill as it impacts the coastal areas – here are just a few ways you can keep current:

• Get the on-the-ground perspective from locals with this online tool from the Surfrider Foundation, The Ocean Conservancy and Sky Truth that lets Gulf-area residents document what's happening to their coast.
• Find out how The Ocean Conservancy is working on response, recovery, restoration and reform in the wake of the Gulf oil spill.
• Spend some time on The Nature Conservancy's The Gulf: Ways You Can Help resource section for the latest from Conservancy bloggers -- spread the word that one of North America’s most treasured places needs our help.
• Follow National Wildlife Federation's coverage on Twitter and help get those re-tweets out!
• Read Natural Resource Defense Council’s blog on the Disaster in the Gulf.
• Since it will be critical to recovery efforts to assess habitat conditions prior to the impact of the spill, National Audubon is planning to launch a Citizen Science initiative in Important Bird Areas throughout the Gulf coast. They’ll provide more information as the effort unfolds.
• Read about Environmental Defense Fund's five steps to limit the Gulf oil spill’s damage, and stay abreast of the latest on the crisis with video reports from their Gulf Coast team.
• Restore America's Estuaries is working to increase support for Gulf oil spill volunteers and future restoration work.