Pending Legislation against aviculture - USFW ESA update

[coopers]

For those that are not aware of two major issues that have surfaced and need to be addressed please take the time and read the USDA's proposal that could negatively affect non-commercial bird breeders and the USFWS's proposal to list several macaw and cockatoo species on the ESA list.

You will find that the USDA's proposal generally refers to dog breeders but realistically it refers to bird breeders as well (the proposal specifically mentions birds). In a nut shell this proposal would like take the most novice hobby breeder that breeds out of their residence to comply with commercial grade requirements in order to lawfully breed and sell birds, dogs and any other warm blooded animal.

Failure to comply with these rules can result in expensive fines and/or criminal charges. While I condone any organization that wishes to protect the welfare of any animal (as this proposal is claiming to do) the verbiage in this specific write up is very damning to any breeder that operates out of their residence as a hobby and needs to be addressed. The USDA would view your private property as public property so long as you are breeding and selling birds to the public.

AFA's link to this proposal:
http://www.afabirds.org/pending_legislation.shtml

Full Proposal Rules:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05 ... -11839.pdf

The second item of business is the USFWS's request to list the following species on the Endangered Species Act list:

1. Blue-headed macaw (Primolius couloni),
2. Crimson shining parrot (Prosopeia splendens),
3. Great green macaw (Ara ambiguus),
4. Grey-cheeked parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhoptera),
5. Hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus),
6. Military macaw (Ara militaris),
7. Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia),
8. Red-crowned parrot (Amazona viridigenalis),
9. Scarlet macaw (Ara macao),
10. White cockatoo (Cacatua alba),
11. Yellow-billed parrot (Amazona collaria), and
12. Yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea).

If the macaws and other parrots are listed as endangered under the ESA, it would be illegal for any person to “take” (including capturing) these birds in the U.S. or upon the high seas; import or export them; deliver, receive, carry, transport or ship in interstate commerce in the course of commercial activity; or sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce.”

This means that transporting across state lines (your own bird) would be a federal violations unless properly documented with permits.If a breeder from WA state wished to expand his/her gene pool and acquire a bird from California, a permit would have to be issued prior to purchasing that bird.

As pointed out on many social media sites and websites, this proposed listing would do nothing to protect the wild populations but only hurt them in the long run. Increasing the number of regulations and increasing the amount of permits and fines a breeder has to pay for and acquire to sustain a healthy diverse genetic background in our US birds is nothing but a disservice to the domestic and wild populations. Listing these species on the ESA list would dramatically decrease the number of breeders which would cause a ripple effect that would ultimately increase the demand for illegal trade of these species.

Focus on enforcement (as well as education and habitat restoration and conservation) within the country of origin of these species is key to the success of these birds and support from the aviculture world on these key elements is encouraged.

USFWS publication regarding their request:

http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/2011/2011-25807.html
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/parrots.html

Please take the time to educate yourself on these issues and write/leave comments on the USDA's website and contact the USFWS regarding your opinions on the listing of the macaws and other parrots on the ESA list.


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