53 



As in New Jersey, allowances are made in the WBCA for importation 

 of wild-caught birds for conservation purposes such as 

 establishing captive breeding techniques for species not yet bred 

 in captivity. I assure you that when wild birds are imported for 

 these purposes, each bird will be banded or micro-chipped, since 

 marking is the best way to track individual birds and their 

 success in a breeding program. 



Thirdly, and closely tied in to the above two concerns is that 

 captive breeding of birds in the United States is and will 

 continue to be curtailed by the WBCA and resulting regulations. 



In New Jersey, we have found nothing further from the truth. One 

 can only pick up a newspaper or scan the yellow pages to find 

 breeders advertising that their birds are domestically bred and 

 hand fed. Dealers are reacting to an educated consumer market 

 that bought into the wild bird act from the very beginning. They 

 are advertising what the consumers want, a friendlier and 

 healthier pet. Wild-caught birds have always been cheaper but 

 have always been wrought with health and behavioral problems. 



I have talked to hundreds of bird hobbyists and have yet to hear 

 a consumer complain about the extra price he or she has to pay 

 for a domestically bred bird. They have seen the television 

 programs or read magazine articles on the exotic bird trade and 

 they understand the conservation and the animal cruelty issues. 

 They are quite satisfied to pay more, in order to get a bird 

 which will be healthy and tame. Our wild bird act has helped 

 the in- state breeder who must charge more for a bird that has 

 been hand- fed and cared for with great attention. We have not 

 hurt New Jersey aviculturists by our law, we have allowed them to 

 flourish. 



I suggest that the same will be true for bird breeders across the 

 United States. 



In conclusion, I believe the WBCA and its regulations have been 

 fair and on target in meeting their stated objective. Dealing 

 with an international issue such as conservation of exotic birds 

 can not be effectively dealt with at a state level. As with 

 other import / export issues involving wildlife, the regulation 

 of exotic birds is best handled at the federal level by the 

 U.S.F.W.S. which has a long history of cooperation with state 

 wildlife agencies. 



New Jersey looks forward to the reauthorization of the WBCA and 

 the full adoption of the required regulations. Perhaps then New 

 Jersey regulations can be amended so that they mirror the federal 

 standard, thereby conserving the exotic bird resource while 

 providing our citizens with a consistent and unobtrusive 

 regulatory framework from which to conduct their business or 

 hobby . Thank you . 



