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American Bird Conservancy 



Co\SER\l\'C. \\ IID BIRD? AVD THFIR HAPIT-VT'ri THROl IGHOLIT THE AmERICAS 



STATEMENT OF THE AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY 

 TO THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES 



OVERSIGHT HEARING ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE MIGRATORY 

 BIRD TREATY ACT 



MAY 15, 1996 



The American Bird Conservancy is a national organization dedicated to the 

 conser.'ation of wild birds in the Americas. We have 52 member organizations 

 from across the U.S. engaged in bird conservation. These groups include the 

 Environmental Defense Fund, World Wildlife Fund, Florida Audubon Society, 

 American Ornithologist Union, and the Peregrine Fund. We thank you for the 

 opportunity to submit comments concerning the hearing on the Migratory Bird 

 Treaty Act and its enforcement. Since we are dedicated to the conservation of 

 wild birds, we are vitally concerned with any attempts to weaken the Migratory 

 Bird Treaty Act and its enforcement. 



The Migratory Bird Treaty of 1916 was adopted between the U.S. and Canada 

 because of substantial declines in many species of birds from overharvest. It was 

 enacted for the purposes "....of saving from indiscriminate slaughter and of 

 insuring the preservation" of migratory birds. In 1936, Mexico was added by 

 treaty as a full partner in trying to stop the decline in migratory species. The 

 Migratory Bird Treaty Act was enacted pursuant to the 1916 Treaty and has served 

 as our basic law governing the protection of avian species. We believe that the 

 Treaty and the Act are essential to the conservation of birds in North America and 

 we woula vigorously oppose any weakening in their implementation and 

 enforcement. As incredible as it may seem, one of the most abundant birds in 

 America was exterminated by indiscriminate hunting earlier in this century. The 

 Passenger Pigeon will never fly again as it once did in flocks of millions, 

 blackening the sky. Shot, packed in barrels, and shipped by the boxcar, the last 

 Passenger pigeon died in 1914. Shortly thereafter, the Carolina Parakeet became 

 extinct (1918), another victim of overharvest and the failure to properly manage a 

 resource. 



Today, there are approximately 9,040 species of birds on Earth with more than 

 850 found in the U.S. Of these U.S. birds, 90 are listed as endangered or 

 threatened while 124 additional species are listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 



1250 24th Street NW. Sliite 220 ♦ Washington, PC ♦ 20037 

 Phone: 202-467-8348 ♦ Fax. 202-467-8352 ♦ E-mail; abc@mn5Inc.com 



