1. $283,500 grant to monitor the day-to-day life of baby gnatcatchers.
The gnatcatcher is a small bird that has been put on a warning list for potentially becoming an endangered species.
Apparently, the cowbird likes to use the gnatcatchers nest for its own eggs. The cowbird will leave the eggs to be cared for by the mommy gnatcatcher.
The Department of Defense has granted scientists $283,500 to watch this, according to the National Review. No action is to be taken yet; that must be for next year’s budget.