Power of Flight

The Power of Flight program protects birds through habitat and species restoration and environmental education. It focuses on Southern birds, such as bobwhite quail, the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, terns, plovers, swallow-tailed kites, and Bachman's sparrows. The program, enacted in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in 2002, has opened quail habitats on more than 37,000 acres across the region plus habitats for endangered Mississippi sandhill cranes, beach-nesting shorebirds, waterfowl, and wading birds. Southern Company has committed $3.3 million in matching funds over 10 years for projects in our region.

A catch-and-relocate program helps the endangered redcockaded woodpecker reproduce and increase its population.

Power of Flight helps restore habitat for birds like Swallow-tailed kites.

Why birds? Birds are the most common wildlife people encounter, and they are excellent indicators of environmental health. They can be found in inner cities or the wilderness, and they play a part in the South’s culture, environment and economy. Birding is among the nation’s fastest-growing outdoor activities, and it generates more than $300 million in economic impact annually in Southern Company’s service area.

Southern Company and the NFWF are each contributing $250,000* annually to the Power of Flight program to fund bird species conservation, habitat conservation and conservation education projects within the service territories of Southern Company’s operating company affiliates: Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power. Organizations receiving grants under the program must then match the grant, thus resulting in at least a $1 million impact each year, or an expected.

*In 2008, each will contribute $300,000 annually to the program through 2012.

Fact Sheet (PDF 110KB)
More about NFWF
How to apply
2008 Grant recipients
2007 Grant recipients
2006 Grant recipients
2005 Grant recipients
2004 Grant recipients
2003 Grant recipients