U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wild Bird Conservation Act Summary of Regulations & Effects

The Wild Bird Conservation Act „„ birds in the families Phasianidae based management plan for the species. (WBCA), a significant step in (pheasants and quail), Numididae The Service has not yet approved­ any ­­international conservation ­efforts to (guineafowl), Cracidae (guans and breeding ­facilities or management plans ­protect ­exotic birds subject to trade, currasows), Meleagrididae (turkeys), to ­allow for imports­ without a permit. went into effect on ­­­­October 23, 1992. Megapodidae (megapodes), Anatidae An ­approved list of captive bred species Unanimously passed by Congress, it (ducks, swans and geese), Struthioni- follows. In the future, the Service­ will limits imports of exotic bird species dae (ostrich), Rheidae (rheas), Drom- ­publish an approved list for the following­ to ensure that their populations are aiinae (emus), and Gruidae (cranes). ­categories: not harmed by international trade. It also encourages wild bird conservation Importation Allowed Under the Act „„ certain species from approved for- ­programs in countries of origin by Permit Required eign captive breeding facilities, and ensuring that trade in such species­ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service involving the United States is both (Service) may issue permits to allow­ „„ certain wild-caught species from biologically sustainable and of benefit­ to importation of otherwise prohibited countries with approved manage- the species. species if the Service determines the ment plans. importation does not undermine the Blue-winged Parrot, CITES Appendix I species’ survival. A permit must be issued by the Service prior to importation. Crimson Rosella, CITES Appendix I ­Permits may be issued only for the following purposes:

„„ scientific research;

„„ zoological breeding or display;

„„ pet importation when owners are returning to the United States ­after J.J. Harrison CC BY-SA 2.0 at least a year’s ­absence; and coop- The Act focuses on bird species listed erative breeding programs, if the on the Appendices­ to the Convention­ programs have been approved by the on International Trade in Endangered­ Service. Species (CITES). If you import birds, you must now meet requirements In addition, the Service allows birds imposed by this new law in addition listed under CITES that were exported­ to existing requirements­ imposed by from the United States by their owners CITES, the Endangered Species Act, to return to the United States. These the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, or other importations are allowed­ provided regulations that may apply. the birds were exported­ legally with a CITES permit and a copy of that permit David Cook CC BY-NC 2.0 It is important to note that the Act does is ­presented when the birds are to be To view a full list of the approved not cover exotic bird products or all birds. returned to the United States. Also, captive-bred species, visit the The following birds are exempt from the owners must accompany these birds Federal Register website at provisions of the Act: when they return to the United States. https://www.federalregister. gov/articles/2001/05/29/01-13348/ „„ birds native to the 50 States and the Permit Not Required wild-bird-conservation-act-review-of- District of Columbia; The Act provides­ for certain otherwise approved-list-of-captive-bred-species. prohibited importations without­ a „„ domestic poultry, sport-hunted birds, permit provided the ­species is on the list Applying for a Permit to Import Birds museum specimens, and dead scien- approved by the Service, the Service has Permit applications and any other tific specimens; and ­approved the captive breeding facility,­ or information you may need are available­ the ­Service has approved a scientifically from the Division of Management­ ­Authority. one. The Service notes that results of the sustainable use management plans. The WBCA are already visible­ in the decline final rule defines sustainable use as “the Please note that permits are still of wild bird imports coming into this use of a species in a manner and at a required for those species under Part country. level such that populations of the species 17 (species listed as endangered or are ­maintained at biologically viable threatened under the Endangered The WBCA final rule allows the levels for the long term and involves Species Act). importation of wild-caught birds into adetermination of the productive capacity the United States when the Service of the species and its ecosystem,­ in order Zebra Finch, CITES Appendix I determines that such importation is: to ensure that utilization does not exceed those ­capacities or the ability of the 1. biologically sustainable, ­­­population to reproduce, maintain itself and perform its role or function in its 2. non-detrimental to species survival ecosystem.” in the wild, and

3. that CITES is being implemented effectively in the countries from which the birds are exported. This aspect of the final rule lifts prior WBCA import restrictions,­ which curtailed the importation­ of all CITES-listed, wild-caught birds. It provides opportunities for importation of wild-caught birds meeting sustainable use criteria.

David Cook CC BY-NC 2.0 The final rule implements procedures establishing criteria that would enable Final Rule Regulations wild-caught bird species­ to be included on The final rule regulations implementing the list of birds approved for importation the WBCA permits importation of wild- to the United States. Wild-caught birds Peach-faced Lovebird, CITES Appendix I caught birds meeting ­certain criteria for on this approved list could be imported­ Marcel Holyoak CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 ­sustainable use of wild bird populations. without a WBCA permit if they came The Service received approximately from a country that had developed a This marks the first time in a regulation 1,500 comments from bird breeders, scientifically based management plan for animal welfare organizations, scientific that the Service has defined sustainable sustainable use of the species. use of a species subject to importation organizations and other groups, into the United States. Unlike other which were considered as part of the This final rule also allows exporting development of the final rule. The final regulations, this final rule lifts a countries to submit applications to restriction rather than imposing a new rule was released in the January 24, 1996, the Service for the approval of their issue of the Federal­ Register.

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