ALERT
Disease outbreak! 04/29/08 This
alert page will list anything that we become available that
concerns our rights to have our beloved parrots and pets, and any
other legislative updates. Nanday
Ban! This
item will be updated as we get more information. January
2008 WE
WON!! Kristy Garcia of The Coalition of Pennsylvania
Aviculturists (TOCPA), and Kelly Williams of the American
Federation of Aviculture (AFA), who, together with Rick
Rowland of TOCPA, attended all sessions of
the Pennsylvania Game Commission to advocate for the
rights of bird owners to own and keep their Nanday
Conures and other exotic birds in Pennsylvania. The good news that Nanday Conures have
been removed from the proposal to amend 58 PA Code
Section 137.1. This means that Nanday
Conures WILL NOT BE BANNED IN PENNSYLVANIA.
The Commissioners thanked them and all who appeared at
the hearing, for their politeness, organization,
professionalism, and thoroughness in addressing the
Commission. They said that it is
obvious that we all love our birds and they were
impressed that so many people took the time to
come before the Commission and advocate for them. In Oct 07, the PA Fish and Game Commission
intended to propose a bill that would ban the Nanday Conure. The
proposal was tabled until Jan 29, 2008. We are just now finding
out about this. If the proposal is accepted on the 29th, it will
be on the table for a final vote some time in April 2008. This
would make it final, unless there is an appeal. The Quaker Parakeet, also known as the Monk
Parakeet, is already banned in the state of Pennsylvania . The
Quaker is considered to be a bird that can survive in
Pennsylvania and become a pest for farmers. Therefore, they are
considered to be in the category of threatened, endangered,
Injurious - [capable of causing harm] Propose rule making This proposal would make it unlawful to import,
[from out of the country and from other states ] possess, sell,
or release the Nanday Conure- also know as the Black Hooded
Parakeet . The dialog in Pa Code, 137.1 is very vague and does
not give a viable reason for this bill. There have been verbal
exchanges that say that an unwritten " grandfather
clause" would be in effect which would mean that those
owning Nandays now will be able to keep them. But this is not in
writing and can not be counted on. Also, if you go to the PA Fish& Game site and
read about the Quaker, the Nandays are listed with them as if the
ban is already in effect. PA Fish & Game: 717-787-4250 ~~ Then select
Option #2 PA's Fish & Game Website:\line www.pgc.state.pa.us\line\line
WHERE TO E-Mail Comments/Questions/Etc pgccomments@state.pa.us There is also a link to click on directly, on
their Website/page Direct your communication to:Jason Decoskey,\line
Chief of Special Divisions Keep your communication polite and controlled. What this means for bird owners; Although you might not own a Nanday Conure,
this effects all of us. The question would be , What next? They
are trying to add the Nanday with the Quaker, and after that they
could easily start working through the list of parrots and
smaller birds Update: We had a wonderful turn out on Sunday-the 27th when our
newly formed Coalition of Pennsylvania Avicultrist went to the
meeting with plenty to say and lots of facts. The PA Fish and
Game Commission did not have much to say according to our local
newspaper. Dr Paul Miller
PHD, DVM and specializing in avian medicine
who works for the PA Dept of Agriculture in avian and pathology
at the PA Vet. lab in Harrisburg passed out information on his
research at the hearing explaing why the Nanday would not survive
in the wild in PA. Dr. Miller has also been a zoo keeper and his
imformation at the hearing is very valuable to us. Links to this issue http://sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/504756.html?nav=5011 No, no, Nanday - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review York, Pennsylvania - Exotic birds might be banned WFMZ-TV Online 69 NEWS from
Harrisburg http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/215722 http://www.animaltalknaturally.com/2008/01/26/wild-african-greys-pa-nanday-conures-need-our-help/ Other issues What's going on in MO? This bill would forbid the breeding, sale,
or transfer of all birds and reptiles in the state of
Missouri. It also forces owners to license each one they own. http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/biltxt/intro/HB1847I.htm
Read about it
http://www.kcra.com/news/883231/detail.html
http://www.kcra.com/news/883231/detail.html