Colonial waterbirds and their nesting habitats were significantly affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Since the spill, ongoing habitat loss at historic nesting islands has continued to challenge the recovery and long-term sustainability of waterbird populations throughout the region.

Verdantas (formerly Colibri) has supported restoration planning, monitoring, and evaluation efforts by conducting aerial photographic surveys of waterbird nesting colonies and analyzing colony distribution and nesting activity. Beginning in 2010, the team helped document the impacts of the oil spill through extensive aerial surveys and subsequent analyses, providing valuable information on colony status and habitat conditions.

Today, Verdantas continues to support island restoration initiatives through aerial monitoring and data analysis that help conservation partners assess restoration effectiveness, track changes in colony use over time, and guide habitat management strategies that support the recovery of colonial waterbird populations across the Gulf Coast.