Help Pass Legislation to Send Raptor Killers to Jail

By Bob Sallinger

Please Help Audubon Send Raptor Killers to Jail by helping us passHouse Bill 4093, The Migratory Bird Penalty and Enforcement Act. This bill was introduced by Congressman Peter DeFazio and would allow intentional killing of protected bird species to be treated as a felony. Under current federal law, even the worst bird related crimes are classified as Class B Misdemeanors, by definition minor crimes. As a result, these crimes are not taken seriously by prosecutors or courts and often occur with minimal or no penalties.

Last year, citizen’s across the United States were shocked and sickened to learn that thousands of peregrine falcons, Cooper’s hawks and red-tailed hawks were being illegally killed in Oregon and California. An 18-month long undercover investigation by the US Fish and Wildlife Service revealed that members of “Roller Pigeon Clubs” (Clubs which raise pigeons for sport) were deliberately killing protected birds of prey using methods that included shooting, trapping, poisoning, clubbing, baiting birds into glass panels and baiting birds with pigeons rigged with fishing hooks. Affidavits reveal that one of the men convicted took pleasure in spraying a mixture of bleach and ammonia directly into the eyes and mouths of birds he had trapped. Another individual bragged to an undercover agent about beating hawks to death describing it as a “great thing….you’ll see, you get a lot of frustration out.” These crimes were particularly personal for Portland Audubon Society---on the Roller Pigeon Club Website, a club member bragged about the killing of peregrine falcons that were raised and released from our facility. He stated that he “laughed and laughed” when he thought of all the work that went into releasing these birds and described their deaths as “pure bliss.” Despite the horrific nature of these crimes, the defendants who pleaded guilty escaped with relatively small fines and community service. The problem is that current federal law just does not take these crimes seriously—it is time to fix the law!

Last year Portland Audubon began intensive lobbying to promote the creation of a felony provision under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act to ensure that these crimes are taken seriously. We applaud Congressman DeFazio for his leadership in moving this effort forward.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. MOST OF THE OREGON DELEGATION HAS SIGNED-ON AS CO-SPONSORS OF THIS BILL BUT WE   NEED TO CONTINUE TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT TO THE OREGON DELEGATION AND WE WILL NEED ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS IN OTHER STATES IN ORDER TO MOVE IT TO A COMMITTEE HEARING.

PLEASE SEND A LETTER SUPPORTING THE MIGRATORY BIRD PENALTY AND ENFORCEMENT ACT TO THE OREGON DELEGATION.

SEND A LETTER TO THE OREGON DELEGATION

PLEASE ALSO FORWARD THIS ACTION ALERT TO FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN OTHER STATES AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO URGE THEIR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS TO SUPPORT THE MIGRATORY BIRD PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT.

SEND THIS ACTION ALERT TO A FRIEND

ADDITIONAL WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

• Donate to the Portland Audubon Migratory Bird Protection Fund which provides rewards to people statewide who report illegal killing of protected bird species ($2500 paid out in the last two months resulting in two convictions.)
• Join Audubon’s Conservation Team (A.C.T) to get regular updates on how you can promote policies locally, regionally and nationally to protect birds

Important Links: The following links will take you to Congressman DeFazio's proposed legislation as well as a variety of documents pertaining to the recent "Roller Pigeon" Raptor Killing Cases:

1. Congressman DeFazio's proposed Migratry Bird Treaty Act Legislation
2. Congressman DeFazio's letter to members of Congress seeking additional co-sponsors for the bill
3. Press Release: US Fish and Wildlife Service announces charges brought against 5 men in  California for illegal killing of birds of prey (May 24, 2007) 
4. Press Release: US Fish and Wildlife Service announces charges brought against 3 men in Oregon for illegal killing of birds of prey (June 8, 2007)
5. Audubon Society of Portland Article on Roller Pigeon Cases (June 2007)
6. Oregonian Article #1 regarding illegal killings of birds of prey in  Oregon (June 9, 2007)
7. Oregonian Article #2 (June 9, 2007) regarding killing of peregrine falcons at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (June 9, 2007)
8. Oregonian Article #3: Mt. Angel Man Pleads Guilty in Roller Pigeon Cases (October 11, 2007)
   
9. Oregonian Article #4: Group Seeks Tougher Penalties for Killing Birds (October 16, 2007) 
   
10. Oregonian Article # 5: Congressman DeFazio introduces Bill to Make Raptor Killing a Felony
11. Oregonian Editorial #1 on Illegal Raptor Killing: “A Twisted View of Nature” (June 12, 2007) 
12. Oregonian Editorial #2: Let us Now Prey (October 20, 2007 
13. Statement from Portland Mayor Tom Potter regarding illegal killings of birds of prey (June 11, 2007) 
14. Learn more about Audubon's Migratory Bird Protection Fund
15. Learn more about Audubon's efforts over the past century to promote bird protection laws
16. National Audubon Magazine article "Fowl Play"
17. Backpacker Magazine article "Secret Agent Man"
18. Birders World Magazine article "Bird Shootings and Poisonings in Oregon Alarm Audubon Officials"
    
    

For more information please contact Portland Audubon Conservation Director, Bob Sallinger at bsallinger@audubonportland.org.