ABC: 10 sites most at risk from Gulf oil spill

American Bird Conservancy warned that 10 Globally Important Bird Areas are most at risk from the oil slick caused by Transocean's Deepwater Horizon rig explosion on April 20 and the subsequent leak.

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Gulf Coast Least Tern Colony: One of the world’s largest colonies of the threatened Least Tern

Lower Pascagoula River, including the Pascagoula River Coastal Preserve: The coastal marshes at the mouth of the river support Yellow and Black Rails, Snowy Plovers and endangered wintering Piping Plovers.

Gulf Islands National Seashore: It hosts thousands of wintering shorebirds, including endangered Piping Plover, Wilson’s Plover and American Oystercatcher as well as Brown Pelican, Black-crowned Night-Heron, White Ibis and Black Skimmer.

Black Skimmer courtesy of ABC/Ralph Wright

Breton National Wildlife Refuge, including Chandeleur Islands: It hosts the largest tern colony in North America, predominantly of Sandwich, Royal and Caspian Terns. Also American Oystercatcher, Brown Pelican, Reddish Egret, and endangered Piping Plover; also an important wintering area for Magnificent Frigatebird and stopover site for Redhead and Lesser Scaup.

Dauphin Island: An important stopover site for migrant birds including shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons and rails.

Fort Morgan Historical Park: This is an important stopover site for migrant birds including shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons and rails.

Caspian Terns courtesy of ABC/Gary Smyle

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge: This is an important stopover site for thousands of trans-Gulf migrants.

Eglin Air Force Base: Best known for its inland population of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, Elgin also has significant coastal habitat for shorebirds and wading birds.

Delta National Wildlife Refuge: Large numbers of wading birds nest here, including White Ibis, Snowy Egrets and herons; thousands of shorebirds use the mudflats in winter and during migration, including Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher and Western Sandpiper as well as endangered Piping Plover.

Baptiste Collette Bird Islands: This artificial barrier island, created from dredge spoil, is one of the many Louisiana coastal islands that could be affected. Birds found here include Caspian Tern, Brown Pelican, Gull-billed Tern and Black Skimmer.