Project SOAR is a partnership of Wildlife Preservation Canada and the Mountsberg Conservation Centre, and is WPC’s entry in Shell Canada’s new Fuelling Change competition.  WPC’s biologists are already restoring shrike habitat, breeding young shrikes in captivity, and releasing them into the wild in order to boost the critically low wild population.  Through Project SOAR, we hope to:

• increase the number of captive-bred shrikes released into the wild every year,
• increase our knowledge of the life story and mortality risk factors faced by this migratory songbird by studying it year-round, throughout its migratory cycle, and
• restore and protect more critical habitat so a growing population of shrikes will have a place to call home.

What is Fuelling Change and how does it work?

Fuelling Change is a new initiative by Shell to boost the Canada’s environmental sector by providing substantial donations to projects chosen by Shell customers.  All project chosen for the competition automatically receive $10,000 from Shell.  The rest of the money available is distributed to the winners in each category as chosen by Shell’s customers.  Project SOAR is in the running for a $50,000 prize.

Every time you make a purchase at Shell, your receipt contains a code which can be redeemed for votes on the Fuelling Change website.  You are given 10 votes merely for registering with the site, and you can also earn votes by linking a project to your Facebook page.  Once you’ve registered, you can then cast your votes for any of the competing projects.  The current competition runs from now through April 2012.  You may vote as often as you like, for as many projects as you like, using up to three receipts per day.

NOTE:  In celebration of Earth Day, Shell is offering all registered users 50 Bonus Votes.  These votes must be redeemed and cast by 11:59 pm EDT Monday, April 30, 2012.  To redeem your votes, follow the link to the Fuelling Change website below, and enter the following bonus code:    

Gbh-7m79z2

Also note that the contest closes April 30.  Even though it’s almost over, please vote for WPC’s Project SOAR, and tell your friends as well.  Even if we don’t win the big prize, the $10,000 grant will help us build the shrike recovery program at Mountsberg.  Your votes will help build awareness of Project SOAR, and are a good way to thank Shell for supporting our cause.  

Sign up and start voting now on the Fuelling Change website .