Miami Songbirds in the Crosshairs: A Fight Against Illegal Wildlife Trading
Forest raiders kidnap Miami's melodious songbirds
A young male indigo bunting in Miami found itself caught in a trap, its feathers scarred and its freedom compromised. Lazaro Enamorado, the bird's 32-year-old owner, looked on with a heavy heart as officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) prepared to take it away, along with two other cherished songbirds.
Songbirds traverse vast distances in their migrations, learning songs and harmless companionship from older ones. Yet, this young bunting met a tragic end in a trap in Florida, violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), a century-old U.S. law that protects these birds and makes it illegal to capture, kill, or possess them.
Yet, the US Fish and Wildlife Service reports that 40 protected bird species in Florida are regularly trapped, mostly songbirds but also owls and hawks. Almost all of this trapping occurs in national parks, state lands, and private property surrounding Miami. Unsurprisingly, the majority of these trappers are believed to be either native Cubans or US citizens of Cuban descent.
The demand for songbirds in Florida is high due to their colorful plumage, distinctive songs, and community status symbol. Federal and state agencies have cracked down on traffickers, making hundreds of misdemeanor charges for songbird trapping or possession, while also investigating larger, long-term cases.
In one such case, officers discovered 75 protected birds in cages on a single man's property. To report suspicious wildlife activity in Florida, contact the FWC.
In Miami, it's easy enough to acquire songbirds without resorting to traps in the woods. In a pet shop, a Cuban bullfinch was on display, an illegal import as it isn't native to the U.S. Protected birds like yellow-faced grassquits can be found for sale, priced at $200 for an adult male or $150 for a young one.
Many songbird crimes likely go unnoticed, and it was due to the keen eyes of FWC officer Rene Taboas that Enamorado was caught. Despite the tall white fence around his property, Taboas spotted the caged songbirds while patrolling in his vehicle.
Enamorado had a collection of songbirds, including two indigo buntings and a rose-breasted grosbeak, which he'd acquired six months earlier in exchange for cages. But to get the grosbeak, he traded away two indigo buntings and an additional $150.
Trapping and selling possibly thousands of birds each year for their plumage and distinctive songs happens frequently in Florida. Since April 2017, FWC officers have issued hundreds of misdemeanor charges for songbird trapping or possession.
Historically, capturing and keeping wild birds as pets has been a common practice, with tales of bird collectors enamored with their songs dating back 5,000 years to the Sumerians. In contemporary Miami, it's easy to acquire songbirds without traps, as revealed during an undercover visit to a pet shop by Florida Fish and Wildlife Service resident agent David Pharo.
While Enamorado believed he was unlikely to get caught due to having birds in his yard without trapping, he was eventually caught and charged with three misdemeanors, punishable by court fees, a wildlife educational course, and a donation to a local wildlife rehabilitation center - along with a criminal record.
Not all trapping cases result in prosecution, especially in metropolitan areas with high caseloads. Some regulatory changes, such as banning the ownership of bird traps, would help deter songbird trafficking. Currently, owning a bird trap isn't actionable unless a bird of a protected species is found in it, making it difficult for law enforcement to catch trappers in the act.
- The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) protects various species of songbirds, making it illegal to capture, kill, or possess them.
- The demand for songbirds in Florida is high due to their colorful plumage, distinctive songs, and community status symbol.
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers have been cracking down on illegal wildlife trading, making hundreds of misdemeanor charges for songbird trapping or possession.
- Many protected birds in Florida, including songbirds, owls, and hawks, are regularly trapped, primarily in national parks, state lands, and private property surrounding Miami.
- Unsurprisingly, the majority of these trappers are believed to be either native Cubans or US citizens of Cuban descent.
- Climate change and environmental degradation pose threats to wildlife conservation and the health of the ocean and other ecosystems, making education about these issues essential for the well-being of nature and the community.
- Conservation organizations, science and environmental-science institutions, and finance sector stakeholders can collaborate to support sustainable wildlife conservation practices and combat climate change.
- Sports and recreational activities can promote awareness about wildlife conservation and the importance of preserving our natural environment for future generations.
- Wildlife conservation is crucial not only for the survival of endangered species but also for maintaining a healthy and balanced ecosystem, ensuring the sustainability of our local and global communities.
