Migratory Bird Treaty Act Penalty and Enforcement Act Clears House

On Wednesday morning the House Subcommittee on Wildlife Unanimously passed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Penalty and Enforcement Act of 2009. This legislation creates a new class of penalties for intentional and aggravated killing or harming protected bird species. Portland Audubon began working on this legislation in 2007 after learning about the deliberate killing of thousands of birds of prey on the west coast by pigeon hobbyists. Reducing illegal take of protected bird species has been a priority for Portland Audubon since our founding. Our Wildlife Care Center continues to regularly see eagles, falcons, hawks, herons and other birds that have been illegally shot. Although harming protected birds has been illegal since 1918, the penalties have been relatively minor. This new legislation which was sponsored by Congressman DeFazio will allow intentional first offenses to be treated as Class A misdemeanors and second offenses to be treated as felonies. It will also allow the Fish and Wildlife Service to offer rewards for information about illegal take of protected birds. The bill now heads over to the Senate. Thanks especially to Congressman DeFazio for his leadership on this issue. Thanks also to everybody who sent letters over the past three years. Thanks finally to National Audubon Society and Humane Society of the United States both of which supported this legislation at a national level.

Bob Sallinger
Conservation Director
Audubon Society of Portland
5151 NW Cornell Road
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 292-9501 ext. 110