WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity today called on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct an immediate investigation and enforce the Migratory Bird Treaty Act after multiple dead ducks were found near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following Trump’s $14 million renovation.

“Wasting taxpayer money turning the reflecting pool into a giant duck death trap just in time for America’s 250th birthday party is as Trump as it gets. Cruel, stupid and selfish,” said Tara Zuardo, a senior campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Instead of letting this administration’s bizarre boondoggle keep killing innocent ducks, I hope the Fish and Wildlife Service steps in to do its job and protect America’s wildlife.”

On Sunday a duckling was found floating in the algae-laden water and now the bodies of two more birds — a juvenile and an adult — have been recovered from a pond at Constitution Gardens, approximately 250 feet away from the Reflecting Pool.

While the exact cause of the deaths is unknown, dumping hydrogen peroxide into the pool or peeling paint driven by the administration’s efforts to make the pool appear “American flag blue” are distinct possibilities. It’s also possible that the algal blooms, which can be toxic, following the Trump administration’s restoration efforts are to blame.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the “take” of protected migratory birds, including killing, capturing, selling, trading or transporting them without prior authorization from the Service. Through its law-enforcement program, the Service is charged with detecting and addressing violations of federal wildlife laws, including unlawful killing of migratory birds.

In today’s letter to the Service, the Center said these deaths demand a full and independent investigation and, if warranted by the evidence, prosecution under the Act. No individual, corporation or government official should be above the nation's wildlife-protection laws. The Act was passed to protect migratory birds from unlawful killing, and its protections should apply equally, regardless of who is responsible for the harm.