It Seems to Me

charges were filed alleging the smug EDITORIAL PAGE gling ofthose items also. If conVicted, Daoud could receive a maximum prison sentence of 50 y ars and a fine of $2.75 million. Silva could be sentenced to 45 years in prison and It Seems to Me. • • be fined $2.5 million. Caseres and by Sheldon Dingle Ugalde could get up to five years in Los Angeles, California prison with a possible total of fines amounting to $250,000. Happy ew Year, guys. Please keep in mind that indictments are not convictions. In the United States merican aviculture has been se charge them with facilitating the trans all persons are considered innocent un A riously impugned. We have portation of, concealing, and posses til proven guilty. [n my heart of hearts, I taken a very heavy blow to our credi sion of protected parrots, knowing the really hope Silva is innocent. I hate to bility, and our sincerity is in grave birds were smuggled. Caseres is alleged think that any aviculturist in this day and doubt. Do we or do we not have a to have supplied most of the birds for age would become involved in an activ healthy regard for the earth's environ Silva and Daoud, and Ugalde to have ar ity that is harmful to the world's popula ment and its wild flora and faunal Do ranged the smuggling of 50 Hyacinth tion of birds. Our mission is to enhance we really have a reverence for birds? [s Macaws from Mexico to the U.S. the well-being of the birds. If Silva is aviculture driven by our love and con Gila Daoud is alleged to have run the guilty, I hope that he gets pounded. cern for the birds - or by profit with family smuggling business under the di So, what are the ramifications of out regard for the birds? There may be rection of her son, Silva, while he was these charges? Well, for one thing, they some doubts. serving d1e avicultural and zoo commu support my earlier editorial wherein I nities as Curator of Birds at Loro Park, said that d1e times are changing. Ican go A strong case for the profit-only mo Tenerife, CanalY Islands. When search to almost any important meeting ofold tive is making news even as I write these warrants were executed at Daoud's time aviculturists and point out in my words. By now most ofyou have heard home, contraband ivory and a parrot mind quite a number of highly re or read in various newspapers that bird feather headdress were confiscated, and spected aviculturists whom I personally expert and avicultural guru Tony Silva has been indicted on ] 5 counts for al leged violations of the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the Lacey Act, Federal quar antine regulations, as well as certain ~7J~@@W\)~ provisions ofCITES. There are also al leged violations ofvarious wildlife pro CROP NEEDLES tection laws ofseveral othercountries. Straight, Curved &.. Custom-made Needles These latest indictments result out of available. All reusable. Operation Renegade, an international undercover investigation that has al Bonivet Plexi Syringe ready convicted 30 individuals for in * Unbreakable volvement in parrot smuggling and * Sterilisable to other related crimes. On ]3 December 160 degrees C ] 994 (Surpri ell Merry Christmas'!), * Exchangeable Luer Lock Adaptor James Burns, U.S. Attorney for the * Spare Washers Northern District of Illinois, and U.S. Available Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforce ment Chief, John Doggett Ill, an nounced the return of the indictments against Tony Silva, his mother, Gila An easy &: economical solu Daoud and co-conspirators Gisela tion to a recurrent problem Caseres (aka Ann Koopman) ofAsun in" bird treatment cion, Paraguay, and Hector Ugalde of Miami, Beach, Florida. Ava/lable In various sizes &.. quantities. Silva and Daoud are charged with conspiring to smuggle at least 186 en • Local 3.. Overseas Agents and Distributors required dangered Hyacinth Macaws into the U.S.A. in addition to a few other species [3W[] @@~~W of protected birds, including Vinaceous 117 Goollelal Dr, Kingsley, WA 6026 AUSTRALIA Amazons ancl Crimson-bellied Conures. INTERNATIONAL PH/FAX +61 9 309 9321 ASK" Counts 3 through 10, ]4 and 15 also afa WATCHBlRD 17 know to have violated a few wildlife cal have even voiced plans for phasing All birds on the Endangered Species rules years ago. Thirty years ago, mov out cats and dogs as pets. Of course list should also be registered and have ing birds across borders and beating the these folks have not forgotten birds. biological samples archived. The only I.R.S. on bird profits was an acceptable There is now and will be increasingly way to know with cel1ainty how closely game one could play. Even the more more pressure brought to bear against or distantly two birds are related is to honorable folks could participate with bird keeping. Every illicit act done by compare their DNA "fingerprints". This out impugning their character. Also dur any bird keeper is ammunition that will method ofbreeding management is al ing that time there were numerous be grossly exaggerated and used to ready being used by ratite breeders to forms of racial discrimination (segre tighten the noose around the throats of their great satisfaction and increased gated schools, separate drinking foun all aviculturists. And, sad to say, this atti production. Most species ofcaptive en tains, etc.), there was blatant gender dis tude seems to be "politically correct" in dangered birds are seriously inbred and crimination, there was rampant exploi some branches ofgovernment. It some the DNA evidence allows the wisest use tation ofthe world's resources, andeven times seems to me that several govern ofthe birds in the gene pool. These birds zoo animals were often kept under con ment agencies display a bias favoring deserve the best management available. ditions unacceptable by today's stand ideas that approach too closely the radi I should hope that most responsible ards. And these situations were OK to cal ideas of the whacko animal rights aviculturists will choose to take advan most reasonable and righteous folks of groups. We surely don't want anyone to tage of this remarkable tool - DNA that time. But that wayaflife is gonefor get railroaded by an over-zealous en identification. ever. Times havechanged. forcement team promoting its own Secondly, although the small back Fortunately, the vast majority of agenda. yard hobbyist may abstain, I feel it is aviculturists have also changed with the So what to dOl It seems to me that, velY advantageous for the professional times and are now enthusiastic environ first and foremost, each aviculturist has aviculturists to become certified under mentalists and supporters ofreasonable to become completely legitimate and the Model Aviculture Program (MAP). wildlife regulations. And even when a keep proper books on their bird opera MAP provides reasonable management few unreasonable or ridiculous laws get tion be it a small bird room hobby or a guidelines that are designed to enhance on the books, today's average avicultur major commercial breeding farm. Ifyou the well-being of captive birds. We all ist does not blithely violate them but, need a business license, get one. If you like that. MAP can certify that your aviar rather, attempts to change the laws make a little profit after all the expenses, ies and techniques comply. MAP also through the political process. declare it and pay your taxes. I am will (through a neutral third party) certifies In this day and age, those who smug ing to predict for the record that within that your record keeping is up to a cer gle birds and violate other wildlife laws five or six years evelY one ofyou will be tain level ofcompetency. Again, any re and fail to report bird profits to the I.R.S. contacted by an agent of the I.R.S. sponsible animal breeder understands are crooks, plain and simple. If Silva is Aviculture is not invisible any longer. the value ofknowing each animal's fam convicted, I hope none ofyou bird shut- You had better be aboveboard and le ily tree. Even the brightest among you t1ing, tax cheating miserable excuses for gal. will dim out when all your bird matings worthy human beings has the gall to There are a couple ofthings that I feel are committed to memory. "As I recall, point your finger at him in blame. You are essential to confirming your aviaries Matilda was mated to Filbert and had deserve the same fate and, with a little as legitimate. Number one is to get in JimmyJoeandMurgatntde backin '9]. luck, will get it. volved in the AFA Exotic Bird Registry. Thenfimmy chewed through the wire But where does this leave the major And the Registly, it seems to me, ought and mated with Charlotte---or luas that ity of us? Our philosophical opponents to have as one of its primary benefits Charlotte who chewed through and paint us all with the same damaging some sort of identification procedure. matedwith Murgatmde? I thOllght Mur brush. Silva was a respected leader in When you register a bird you also mark gatmdewasaJemale. Etc., etc., etc." ·worldaviculture and he seems to have it (leg bands, micro-chips, tattoos, DNA How do you lik~ them genetics? Also, violated his trust absolutely. If such a samples, or something as yet unknown I'd like to be there when you explain to leadercannot be trusted, how much less to me). As I write, at this velY moment, the I.R.S. your old method of left front the average obscure backyard breeder. there is a study underwayto connectthe pocket for retail, right front pocket for We have allbeen damaged just at a time Registry to an identification program. wholesale sales - cash only. Believe when ourcredibility is extremely impor I'm for whatever works and satisfies the me, dear friend, it won't work any tant. We are in political and philosophi federal provisions. Personally, I'm bet longer. Professional operations keep re cal disagreement with a cadre ofhard ting on the DNA system as it seems the cords. core animal rights fanatics whose ulti most foolproof; but perhaps other It seems to me that American avicul mate goal is no use ofanyanimalwhat methods can serve well also. We'll see. ture is to the point where it must get its soeverfor any reason. The fanatic lead When the marking system is in place house in order. I don't mean we should ership ofseveral powerful animal rights (whichever one prevails), the birds reg wimp out and kiss off our basic free organizations wants to stop all medical istered will also have an ID card, so to doms. We shouldn't roll over for evelY research on animals, eliminate meat speak, and will be identifiable and, be bureaucrat that wants to impose outra from your diet and outlaw all animal lieve me, no one can claim to be a com geous taxes, controls and conditions to farming. Theywant to eliminate all zoos, petent aviculturist if unable to identify birdkeeping. But we ought to embrace a rodeos, circuses, pony rides and any his or her birds. At the very least, you little more discipline and set/control in other entertaining use of animals no should register those birds in your pos our industry lest it be imposed from matter how humane and gentle the use session that are commonly found in the without. I'd like to know what you may be. Indeed, some ofthe most radi- illicit bird trade. think. >0)-

1H March/April 1995 portation ofexceedingly rare parrots in EDITORIAL PAGE a way that di courages illegal activity. Again, greed is the probl m. When par rots sell for thousands ofdollars apiece, illegal activity will occur. Should limits Opinions on the price of parrots be considered when wild habitat will support larger populations' This seems more practical than the stupidity ofraising the prices on all parrots to support controlling them Is There A Future For Me In crease because of habitat, exports and in the end, making them even more Raising Parrots? should beallowed. attractive to smugglers. This is a world 3. Control of birds through a registra wide problem that can't be solved in the Editor-[n-Chief, tion process \vill discourage illegal activ nited States. Parrot species will disap JV[r. Thompson, I have read \\'ith ity. [ like your approach to this, but I'd pear despite our efforts because of much interest all ofthe articles on regu like to know what the rules are before I population explosion of mankind. Let's lation and conservation of birds in your band my unbanded birds. I'd like to explore something besides raising last two issues. Since joining your or stress them just once instead ofseveral prices to control illegal activity. Price ganization in October, these articles identification change stresses. control is the only answer [ see - any have heightened my concern in several Iapplaud youreffoI1s to comply with thing else eliminates parrots. Increased areas, as follows: the new regulations voluntarily. We cer 1. Conservation of a species in its tainly don't want to support a govern AFA Watchbird advertisers natural habitat IS surely the best way to ment bureaucracy that drives up the represent some ofthe best in insure it will survIve - it is also the least price of birds and causes the average the business. When you buy likely to \\'ork because of human greed. citizen to lose interest in parrots because from these fine sources, be People \\'i11 not spend the money and ofeconomics. sure to tell themyou sawtheir time needed for this to succeed if they It also seems prudent for our organi ad in Watchbird! see no personal benefit. Without hunt zation to spearhead effoI1s to control im- ing and fishing money in the United Smres,mo~ofourwildlifuwouldd~ap-~ _ pear. Hunters and fishermen wouldn't spend the money without seeing bene ~;1~~~~' ;~~:S1 11!J~ fits Already licenses are declining as I. hunting and fishing land is used for de <- velopment. Another problem is how to channel The Perfect Gift money and effort to the birds without mankind siphoning offthe majority of the funds. We can't even do this success fully for people velY often. Unless velY stringent controls are taken, I project that at least 90% offunds raised and sent to foreign countries will nev I' help any birds and will only raise prices ofbirds in our own countIy' My concern is that we may shoot ourselves in both feet by throwing our money away on one hand and raising prices on parrots to the point they are no longer affordable to raise or buy in our own countIy. This will insure that species will disappear as countries develop. Until mankind can control his own population, wildlife will continue to disappear at astronomical levels. Drive through any part ofour country, and see the de\'e!opment ofour rural ar eas. It's scalY, and the same thing is hap pening in most places that parrots live. 2. It seems the solution is to evaluate habitat and parrot numbers. \X1here par rots can multiply, there should be no ex ports. Where parrot numbers are at the point where their numbers cannot in-

afa WATCHBlRD 19 prices decrease market, eliminates Irealize that as a novice bird breederI don'tthinkyou can equatebreeding do breeders, eliminates buyers, eliminates may not know all the ins and outs re mesticated cats and dogs for the pet species ofparrots, and only helps illegal garding the newWild Bird Conselvation market with breeding birds. Rules that activity in the short run while parrots Act. Maybe the AFA could try to explain apply are very different. There is no easy last. it to people such as me. answer but maybe a simplistic sketch I have been involved in aviculture for willgiveyou, as a newcomer, an over 3 years now, and have 16 pairs ofpar Donna Somers view. Many birds in thepettrade are also rots. I retired 3 years ago after 28 years in Oakview, California viable wildspeCies that areprotected un management at the age of 52. Hope dervarious regulatiOns andinternational fully, there will be a future for me in rais treaties. This, ofcourse, applies to snakes, ing parrots. I certainly enjoy the parrots, DearMs. Somers: fish, mammals andany othercreatures but I sure don't like the future potential Thankyoufor the excellent letter. You that occurin the wildandarealso bredin for price increases in a market that de touch on some very importantpoints captivity. clined this past year. I don't plan to ex First, it depends, I suppose, upon where When the critters are threatened or pand until the controls are in place, and you live as to whetherornotyourdog is endangered orotherwise controlled by working. required to have a license. In the City of their country oforigin, the us. is bound Carl Beutelschies Los Angeles, where I and my dog Igor by treaty and ourown internal regula Cabot, Arkansas (pronounced EyegoreJ live, it is abso tions to aLm controlthose critters. Allofa lutely mandatory that all dogs be li sudden, wefind manyofthe animalswe censed. This is not a voluntary matter. breedforthepet marketalready under Legitimate or Not? The City regulations are very clear- if thejurisdiction ofthe Federal Govern you havea dog youpay $20andgeta li ment. The Feds don'tcarewhatsizecage Dear AFA: cense. Period. Andyoushouldknowthat yourparrotlives in. Th~ydo care where I must take exception to the editorial the various City employees (meter read you got the bird. Through regulation, written by Mr. Sheldon Dingle, "It Seems ers, etc.) who have occasion to be on the federal government can put into to Me... " in theJanuary/February 1995 yourpropertyspot suspicious dogs and placewhateverdevices ormethodsitfeels Watchbird. I do enjoy Mr. Dingle's arti report theirlocation to the animalcon are necessary to exercise the control of cles, however, his statement"... to be le trol office. Dog owners ojien receive in Wildlife (foreign or domestic) de gitimate even your dog must be regis the mail memossaying, "A brown and mandedbyCongress. tered, and to be legal the dog must have white dog has been reported on your Ofcourse, there are many conserva a license." property. Cough up the 20 bucks, " or tion groupspushingforlegitimatepro This is not the case. Having bred words to that effect. In a month ortwo, tection/orthe world's diminishing wild show Beagles for over30 years, registra another memo appears addingfines to life. Andjustifiab~y so. Atthe same time, tion is notnecessary for the pet owner. the originalcost ofthe license. In LA., at a number of radical animal rights Only ifyou plan to compete in a showor any rate, Igor is not legal without his dog groups havejoinedthe battleandexert a trial of any kind does registration be tags. You, obviously, live in a happier very strong influence on the regulations come important. Also, if you never li townoronenotasstrappedjormoney. adoptedbythegovernment. Theiraim is cense your dog it could count for you if Since Igor (a pit bull cross ofsome to regulate the birdsoutofexistence. the governmentshouldtry to fine oroth sort) was retrievedfrom aJack-in-the Right now the US. Fish and Wildlife erwise penalize you. There is a case in Boxparking lot, heis obviously notregis Service is examining aviculture to learn California where a person never li tered. (He is talented, however, andeas whether or not the industry has any censed their dog and it was argued in ily kept theparking lot cleared ofalljoot built-in controls. Ifthere are none, you court that by never complying with the traffic)Registereddogs arelegitimate can be sure the controls will be imposed voluntary act, the dog owner could not theirparentage is known. I'm oldfash bythegovernment. Mycalljarparticipa be heldfor not obeying. ioned, perhaps, but when one ~'\ parent tion inil1AP and in theM4 Exotic Bird Although this is about dogs, it does age is unknown orhas notthe blessing of Registry is to install ajorm ofse?fregula have a follow-through for birds. Since a legal union, one is illegitimate This tion that makes sense and that we can no animal bred for the pet market has statusgoes asfarbackinantiquityas the live with. I. likeyou, wouldpreferthere any federal laws regulating the care and written word. Igor is well qualifiedjar be no regulations at all. But no regula keeping ofsuch animal, why should the this claSSification since his ancestry is tionsplus no discipline equals a bird bird fancy rush to be the first? unknown, indeed, almost unguessable. trade out ofcontrol. We can no longer Although I am new to the breeding of Anotherfact that impresses his illegiti getawaywith that. birds, I find myself alternating between macyupon meis the numberoftimesmy Hang in there. I'm sureyou can com anger and depression that I will not be friends(becomingfewerbythemomentJ ply with thegentle but ejfective se?Fim able to comply with the new "provi scream, "Keep that bastard dog away posedcontrols thatil1APandtheRegistry sions." And I keep asking, "Whyus?" from me. "It'sobvious. calljar. For a qUick refresher course on We, as dog breeders, have faced the I stand by my disputed statements. some o.fthe laws ai/ecting aViculture, I animal rights folks for some time now, Igor is illegal without a license andhe is referyou to Rick]ordan 's excellent arti and we have learned that where we illegitimate in view ofhis being engen cle "These Laws A re For The Birds" on tried to work with them we now have deredbyan unsanctioned, unwitnessed page 14 ofthe]anlFeb 1995issue ofthis "no breeding" zones. Please be on union oftwo strayspassing in the night. journal. We'll haveperiodic updates. guard- there is no compromising with Forgivemystubbornness. these people. On a more serious note, though, I S.LD., Editor ~ 20 MarchiApril 1995