100 



may occur if the worldwide shipments of birds continues and cuirent quarantine regulations are 

 not changed. Quarantine procedures must include much longer quarantine periods and testing 

 for many more diseases. The massive extinctions of native Hawaiian birds, caused in part by 

 diseases to which many species had no prior exposure, exemplify the potentials of exotic diseases 

 to have tragic consequences. 



3. The importation of live birds should not result in significant potentials for the establishment 

 of feral populations. Uncontrolled experiments in introductions of exotic bird species are already 

 underway around the world as a result of continued international trade. Large numbers of exotic 

 birds establishing themselves, so far mostly in urban environments but perhaps eventually 

 spreading to natural ecosystems, may cause native populations to decline or could become serious 

 pests. International trade should be prohibited for species with good colonizing abilities that are 

 proven pests, like the Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus). 



4. The harvest, exportation, and importation of live birds should be consistent with national 

 policies concerning the use of native species. To be ethically consistent, the trade in live birds 

 should be regulated by nations in the same manner that they regulate commercial uses of native 

 wildlife. Some exporting countries have no clear set of laws for the use of native wildlife. 

 Others choose to regulate the use of valuable species such as parrots as pest species so they can 

 set very high harvest quotas, even though they prohibit commercial use of less valuable species. 

 For importing countries, another kind of dilemma exists. Most prohibit commercial uses of 

 native bird species. Legal forms of utilization of wild birds, for example sport hunting and 

 falconry, are usually carefully regulated, require licenses, and require that wild populations of 

 game birds or raptors be managed in a sustainable maimer. Exotic birds have been largely 

 exempt from such regulations until the passage in the U.S. of the WUd Bird Conservation Act 

 of 1992. So although it is illegal to market or hold native bird species, except under permit, it 

 is quite legal to practice these same activities with most nonnative birds without a permit Both 

 situations pose unfortunate ethical inconsistencies in the treatment of wildlife species. 



5. The trade of live birds should be governed by regulations that are economically feasible, 

 practically enforceable, simple, and effective. Regulations should not preclude scientific studies 

 of birds in captivity, international recovery efforts, or public exhibitions for educational purposes. 

 Complicated regulations imply complicated bureaucracies and significant expense, and are 

 susceptible to failure because of underfunding and difficulties in addressing complexities. 

 Simplicity in regulations is an important goal. Enforcing trade regulations that allow harvest and 

 imnortation of wild-caught birds would require the development of adequate marking systems to 

 detect the laundering of illegal birds through captive breeding or ranching programs, and to detect 

 smuggled birds. Presently no marking system is completely reliable. More resources must be 

 invested in enforcing any legislation, including stronger fines and sentences for convicted 

 smugglers, if legislation is to effectively deter current widespread smuggling. Practically 

 enforceable harvest regulations are necessary as the cornerstone of any system of sustainable use. 



6. Captive breeding of exotic species for aviculture should be self-sustaining (i.e., without 

 requiring the continued importation of wild-caught birds) and be conducted humanely. The 

 importation of wild birds for commercial aviculture had been fueled in part because it was often 

 less expensive for aviculturists to import adult wild-caught birds than to buy captive-reared birds. 

 Aviculturists do not need continued access to wild birds for captive breeding stock because all 



