USFWS Issues Charges for Birds of Prey Killings
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US Fish and Wildlife issues charges for widespread killing of birds of prey
“I laughed and laughed when I heard this story because of all the pain staking measures they took to get these birds to adolescence and than to have someone take them out simply was bliss!! …Shoot, shovel and shutup!”
Quotation from roller pigeon website celebrating the illegal killing of juvenile peregrine falcons from the Saint John’s Bridge Posted on All Roller Talk Forum. view webpage
Audubon Society of Portland was saddened and sickened to learn that roller pigeon enthusiasts in California, Oregon, and Texas have been charged with “fatal beatings and killings” of protected birds of prey including Peregrine Falcons, Cooper’s hawks and Red-tailed Hawks. The scope and scale of these killings is staggering with California estimating that the taking in Los Angeles alone may have ranged from 1000-2000 birds of prey annually.
These illegal killings apparently included young Peregrine Falcons from the Saint Johns Bridge that had to be removed from the bridge during construction activities. These birds were raised in captivity by the Audubon Society and released on Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. According to a posting on the Birmingham Roller Pigeon Website, a pigeon fancier living near the refuge subsequently killed these birds. The posting mocked the community effort that went into trying to save these birds and described the killings as “bliss.”
Audubon commends the US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agents Office for their outstanding work on this case. If the charges are proven, this will stand as one of the most significant crimes against birds since the Migratory Bird Treaty Act made it illegal to kill native birds of prey as well as other native bird species in 1918.
Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act can result in penalties of up to $5,000 and/or six months in prison. Portland Audubon is urging the US Attorney's office to seek the maximum penalties allowed by law.
Portland Audubon is also offering a $1,500 reward to anybody providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individuals illegally killing birds of prey in the Portland-Vancouver Metropolitan Region. This reward is part of Audubon’s Migratory Bird Protection Fund which was created in 1996 to reduce ongoing problems with illegal killings of protected birds in the Metropolitan Region.
Information should be reported to the US Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Office at 503.682.6131.
California Press Release Oregon Press Release Oregonian Article June 9th Second Oregonian Article June 9th Oregonian Editorial June 12th Statement from Mayor Tom Potter
For more information on the reward, please contact: Bob Sallinger, Conservation Director at bsallinger@audubonportland.org or 503.292.9501 ext. 122