NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release
	Contact: David Dahle NIC (615) 313-0327 david@egovtn.org

NASHVILLE, Tenn., - March 23, 2009 – The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) has now made it easier to support Tennessee’s invaluable songbirds and wildlife by accepting tax-deductible credit card donation online. Presently the Watchable Wildlife Endowment Fund generates approximately $136,000 annually to be spent on non-game and watchable wildlife projects and the agency seeks to increase the available funds for projects by allowing the convenience of secure, online tax-deductible donations using a credit card at http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/twrafund.

Funds from the Watchable Wildlife Endowment Fund support a wide variety of Tennessee non-game and endangered wildlife projects, including the conservation of songbirds and promoting wildlife viewing opportunities at many TWRA wildlife areas. Some of the projects that have been supported by this Fund include the annual Sandhill Crane Festival at Hiwassee Refuge, elk viewing at North Cumberland WMA, and construction of wildlife viewing platforms at a number of wildlife areas across Tennessee.

“According to a 2006 survey by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, over 2 million Tennesseans enjoy watching wildlife, and Tennessee has an abundance of great wildlife viewing opportunities across the state,” said Greg Wathen, Chief of Wildlife. “Purchasing a Bluebird license plate or contributing directly to the Watchable Wildlife Endowment Fund is a great way to support wildlife viewing opportunities in Tennessee, for now, and for future generations of Tennesseans."

The Watchable Wildlife Endowment Fund was established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1994, as part of legislation establishing the Watchable Wildlife specialty license plate, or “Bluebird Plate.” Since 1994, more than 197,000 Bluebird Plates have been purchased by Tennesseans, which has built the Fund’s principal balance to more than $5.2 million. The interest from the Endowment Fund is spent on projects in support of Tennessee’s more than 1,000 species of non-game and endangered fish and wildlife, and to benefit watchable wildlife in perpetuity.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, (http://state.tn.us/twra/) established in 1949, now consists of more than 600 professionals dedicated to the preservation, conservation, and enhancement of Tennessee's fish and wildlife for the enjoyment of all Tennesseans and our visitors.

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