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 Protection 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 WILL NEED ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS IN OTHER STATES IN ORDER TO MOVE IT TO A COMMITTEE HEARING. PLEASE 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.

THE EASIEST WAY TO INFORM YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT HOW TO HELP IS TO USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO NATIONAL AUDUBON'S WEBSITE, PORTLAND AUDUBON HAS TEAMED WITH NATIONAL AUDUBON TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION: TELL A FRIEND

Together we can send a strong message that intentional killing of protect birds will not be tolerated. Please help us pass the Migratory Bird Protection and Enforcement Act.

BACKGROUND ON THE MIGRATORY BIRD PENALTY AND ENFORCEMENT ACT

During the first week in November, Representative Peter DeFazio, joined by Representatives Darlene Hooley, David Wu and Earl Blumenauer,  introduced legislation that would amend the Migratory  Bird Treaty Act of 1918 to make it a felony to intentionally kill protected birds. This legislation, if adopted by Congress, would fulfill a longtime priority of the Portland Audubon Society to ensure that bird related crimes are treated with the severity that they deserve. During the past year, Portland Audubon has been actively lobbying the Oregon Congressional Delegation to pursue such an amendment and we applaud Congressman DeFazio’s leadership on this issue.

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Additional ways that you can help:

• Write Representatives DeFazio, Hooley, Blumenauer and Wu and thank them for their leadership on this issue. Please let them know that you care about protection of native birds and encourage them to continue their efforts to see this bill through to passage. It is important to state that you support both retaining the existing “strict liability” misdemeanor penalty and creation of a new felony provision for the most serious intentional violations.

Congressman DeFazio: http://www.house.gov/formdefazio/contact.html

Congressman Blumenauer: http://blumenauer.house.gov/about/Contact.shtml

Congressman Wu: http://www.house.gov/wu/email.shtml

Congresswoman Hooley: http://hooley.house.gov/index.asp?Type=DYNAFORM&SEC={9BDA1E4D-2430-4E7D-B7AB-236B60C42F5A}

• Contact friends in other states and urge them to contact members of their congressional delegations to sign on as co-sponsors of this bill.
• Sign an Audubon petition supporting felony provisions at both the state and federal levels for intentional killing of protected bird species. Petitions will be available at the Cornell Road Audubon Facility and at most Portland Audubon events. Support from both groups and individuals is welcome.
• 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

For more information Contact Conservation Director, Bob Sallinger at bsallinger@audubonportland.org

Important Links: The following liks 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. Statement from Portland Mayor Tom Potter regarding illegal killings of birds of prey (June 11, 2007) 
9. Oregonian Editorial on Illegal Raptor Killing: “A Twisted View of Nature” (June 12, 2007) 
10. Oregonian Article #3: Mt. Angel Man Pleads Guilty in Roller Pigeon Cases (October 11, 2007)  
11. Oregonian Article #4: Group Seeks Tougher Penalties for Killing Birds (October 16, 2007)  
12. Oregonian Editorial #2: Let us Now Prey (October 20, 2007 
    
13. Learn more about Audubon's Migratory Bird Protection Fund
14. Learn more about Audubon's efforts over the past century to promote bird protection laws
15. Oregonian Article # 5: Congressman DeFazio introduces Bill to Make Raptor Killing a Felony