Exotic Birds, Stolen Lives

Interview with Monica Engebretson, Senior Program Coordinator for the Animal Protection Institute based in Sacramento.

The API calls the situation of captive exotic birds such as parrots and budgies a "hidden crisis." What do you mean?
The problems facing exotic birds are not as obvious to most people as the problems facing other animals such as cats and dogs. For one thing many humane societies and shelters do not accept unwanted birds and many people are unaware of the shelters that do accept them, so unwanted birds do not show up in the shelter as often as other animals. In addition, an unknown number of birds are simply released to fend for themselves when their caretakers tire of them. Unlike cats and dogs, abandoned birds generally do not roam the streets or establish feral colonies (although some exceptions exist). Most soon perish. Like our own native birds the carcasses of released parrots are rarely found probably because predators or scavengers consume their bodies.

Another hidden component of the crisis are the birds who spend the bulk of their lives confined to cages because their caretakers have lost interest in them, have become afraid to handle them, or simply do not see anything wrong with confining and intelligent fight-adapted animal to a cage for the bulk of his or her life. Unlike chained dogs, neglected caged birds are typically kept indoors essentially hidden from view of the public.

There are currently over 100 self-described bird rescues or sanctuaries in the United States, many of which have come into existence in just the last few years and many are already filled to capacity. I don't think the general public is aware of this.

People see birds singing in their cages and assume that they must be happy. Is this true?

Studies have shown that the bird most commonly kept for its singing ability - the canary, also has a high tendency to perform stereotypic behavior in captivity. Stereotypic behaviors are abnormal, repetitive and functionless behaviors that are often performed by captive animals housed in barren or restricted environments and are mostly absent in the wild, and are relatively infrequent in large, environmentally enriched enclosures. The presence of stereotypic behavior is a commonly accepted sign of poor welfare.

Singing is part of a birds' normal communication behavior and it is one of the few natural behaviors that is not restricted by a captive environment. Assuming a bird is content because he or she is singing is like assuming human prisoners are happy because they talk to each other.

Tell us about the Telegraph Hill colony in San Francisco.

The Telegraph Hill colony is an example of a situation where released or escaped parrots have been successful in surviving and reproducing in our urban jungles. At least 74 free-living exotic parrot species have been reported in North America. It has been estimated that there are more than 2,000 free-flying parrots in southern California alone.

The Telegraph Hill colony is the subject of a recent book "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" by Mark Bittner and a documentary film by the same name, produced by Judy Irving. The flock is made up primarily of Red-masked Conures, Aratinga erythrogenys - native to Ecuador and Peru. There are also a few Mitred Conures, Aratinga mitrata -native to Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, which have interbred with the Red-masked conures producing fertile hybrids. It is suspected that most of the founding flock members were wild-caught and were brought to the U.S. prior to the passage of the Wild Bird Conservation Act in 1992. The Act essentially banned the commercial import of wild-caught birds for the pet industry and aviculture.

How many exotic birds are captured in the wild each year?
The number of birds taken from the wild for the bird trade is estimated to be in the millions, however it is impossible to determine the exact number for several reasons. First, the trade in birds within their countries of origin may be as large or larger than the international export trade and there exist no systematic surveys of the number of captive birds held within exporting countries. Another is that export numbers fail to account for the number of birds that die during capture and transportation prior to export. It has been estimated that up to four times as many parrots are captured than make it to market. Finally, export statistics track only the legal trade and, as such, fail to take into account the number of birds smuggled illegally into the trade. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the illegal trade in wildlife is second only to that of drugs in the United States.

How big is the exotic bird breeding industry?

The size of the United States bird breeding industry is also unknown because, for the most part, the industry is completely unregulated. Birds and bird breeders are not currently covered under the Animal Welfare Act, but that may soon change.

After the U.S. Department of Agriculture agreed in a 2000 court settlement to include birds, rats, and mice under the Animal Welfare Act, lobbyists for the research industry pressured Congress to amend the Act to eliminate birds and virtually all mice and rats bred for research from the definition of "animal" under the law. However, some birds, rats, and mice such as those bred for the pet industry are still covered under the law. The USDA is now in the process of developing regulations.

What's your own background, and how did you get involved in animal protection issues?

I remember successfully lobbying my first grade teacher for the release of or our class pet -a native wild-caught horned lizard. So, I guess you could say I got involved in animal protection issues when I was six.

In college headed up the campus animal rights club and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife with a minor in Environmental Ethics. I began working for the Animal Protection Institute about a year after graduation and have been with the organization now for five years. I began working on exotic bird issues almost immediately, largely because it seemed the animal protection movement was overlooking the issues facing captive birds.

In addition to my work at API, I serve as an advisor to the non-profit Indonesian Parrot Project/Project Bird Watch, with which I have traveled twice to Indonesia. The organization is working to provide sustainable income to villagers in parrot-rich areas of Indonesia to protect parrots and parrot habitat from cruel and destructive trapping and logging activities. I am also a board member of the Avian Welfare Coalition and the Midwest Avian Adoption and Rescue Service.

What political actions can people take right now in the U.S. and elsewhere to help exotic birds?

Politically speaking, individuals can support laws aimed at improving the care and treatment of exotic birds in captivity and those aimed at protecting exotic birds in the wild.

The USDA is currently accepting public comments on how best to regulate birds under the Animal Welfare Act. While comments on this phase are due November 1, there will be another opportunity for public comment on the draft regulations. Interested individuals can check API's website for more information and updates www.api4animals.org or join our action alert e-mail team.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is currently entertaining a proposal from Argentina to allow for the importation of wild-caught blue-fronted Amazon parrots. API of course has adamantly opposed this proposal. While the public comment period is now closed on this specific proposal, we can expect similar situations to arise in the future.

One of the most frequent complaints API receives regarding birds is their care and treatment in retail pet shops. Many states lack adequate pet shop laws especially with regard to the sale of birds. API has drafted model legislation for the care and treatment of animals in pet shops (including birds) and offers assistance to individuals interested in pursuing a change in their state laws.

More information about issues affecting exotic birds and how individuals can help can be found at API's special campaign website www.MoreBeautifulWild.com under "Birds."

Photo of caged birds in Indonesia copyright Monica Engebretson

Comments

[Exotic Big Cats For Sale]

I just love exotic cats, as babies, they are so cute, and as adults so majestic.

[Flu-Bird]

I have a book AMAZING BUT TRUE BIRD TALES has one about how a family was save froma fire by the COCKATIEL when he started shreiking in the night they woke up in time to put out a fire in their home

[Paula N Ashfield]

Bird shelters/sanctuaries are not your most commonly chosen organizations to be in the spotlight of the "Pet Community". Even as a nonprofit organization there is little awareness of parrot’s needs in the public eye. Thus, leaving most people when volunteering, joining a group or donating to a cause, choose organizations such as: Dogs, Cat's and Horse shelter’s, leaving the organizations like ours and other exotic pets shelters who focus mainly on one species of animal off their list.
It is our aim to make a difference for the parrots with one individual and organization at a time joining our community and shine a spotlight on our Beaks, Feathers and Claws.
The need of public awareness and involvement is an urgency and one that will not subside even if breeders stop breeding and stores stop selling birds for the very young parrots such as 7, 4 year old or younger in sanctuaries today will need the public support for another 60+ years to come.
We believe that collectively we make a difference. However, Small rescues/sanctuaries like ours across United States are lacking the funds it takes to educate the public, run programs and advertize the urgent needs of cost to provide maintenance and proper care for the multitude of unwanted, physically challenged and abandoned birds that are relinquished every day.
Under My Wing Avian refuge has the privilege to collaborate articles for submission to NJSCPA on abused and exploited captured birds. We would like very much to include a few notes from other rescues who would like to have their experiences and knowledge on the subject as well as what we can do as a strong community to help Parrots everywhere, shelters receive funding and bringing it all to the media.
A major issue Under My Wing is also working on is the massive requests from the community and in due respect it must be dealt with. We are presently awaiting answers to solve the issue of internet pet trade such as this www.petsbid.com/detail.asp?id=6753. Petbid.com, this website is owned by Implora, PO Box 894, Colonial Height VA. Anyone with any information that can help to stop control or stop this trade is welcome to communicate with us and make a difference. Internet et trade may not be an issue is certain States but each individual in many States such as NJ must possess a permit or license according to Law to post. Many of these animals need our help.
We ask for a small writing to be sent in this week to be featured on NJSCPA and although you are not in NJ we believe a strong community is build with all who care to participate across USA.
Won’t you please join us in making a difference?
Collectively, we can and will make a difference!
Thank you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
admin@exotivbirdsrefuge.org