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The Purpose of the Wild Bird Conservation Act 



Large-scale commercial trade in exotic birds has had a devastating effect upon 

 wild bird populations worldwide. Excessive trade and habitat destruction together 

 threaten more than 1 ,000 bird species with extinction. In the past two decades alone, 

 international trade has been recorded for more than 2,600 of the approximately 9,600 

 known bird species, with trade levels estimated at two to five million birds annually 

 [1). Large birds such as parrots and macaws, a major component of the international 

 trade, are particularly vulnerable to overharvesting because of their slow reproductive 

 rates [2]. 



Problems of overharvesting are compounded by high mortality and collection 

 methods that destroy important habitat. Up to 80% of birds die before reaching their 

 final destination, as hundreds of birds are frequently crammed into small crates 

 without sufficient food, water, or ventilation [3]. To collect these birds, trees are often 

 cut down or nest cavities opened with machetes, resulting in permanent habitat 

 destruction [4]. 



Prior to the Wild Bird Conservation Act, the United States was the world's 

 largest importer of wild birds, importing more than 7.4 million birds between 1 980 

 and 1 991 . This lucrative market ovenwhelmed many international attempts to control 

 the bird trade, including export bans by range nations. 



Unlike most policy issues which involve complex trade-offs and technical 

 details, the problems of the wild bird trade fortunately can be largely solved by 

 tapping a readily-available source of birds — those bred in captivity in the United 

 States. By restricting imports of wild-caught birds from foreign countries, the Act 

 promotes both good conservation and U.S.-based industry as part of the solution. 



Legislative History of the Wild Bird Conservation Act 



The current law emerged from two separate bills introduced in 1 991 which 

 addressed the trade problem in different ways. The Exotic Bird Conservation Act 

 (H.R. 2541, S. 1218) would have gradually reduced some imports over a five-year 

 period but still allowed a significant amount of trade to continue. This bill was 

 supported by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (representing the major 

 commercial bird importers), the American Federation of Aviculture, the Worid Wildlife 

 Fund, and others. In contrast, the Wild Bird Protection Act (H.R. 2540, S. 1219), 

 supported by Defenders and more than 200 conservation, emimal protection, and 

 scientific organizations, would have immediately banned all importation of wild birds 

 and required marking of exotic birds already present in the United States. After 

 months of hard-fought negotiation, a compromise was developed that entailed 

 significant concessions from both sides. The compromise basically allowed 



