The American Bird Breeder's Role in Conservation

Abstract

American avian breeders can aid in
the conservation of threatened species,
particularly birds from tropical areas of
the world. Breeders need not be confined
only to those who keep and
breed rare or endangered species. All
breeders can be helpful, if they will but
try.
Criticisms From Conservationists
Birdkeepers, at times, come under
fire from conservationists, some of
whom are adamantly opposed to the
keeping of birds under aviary or almost
any other conditions. Others believe
captive breeding can play no part in
the conservation of endangered
species. These people are strongly critical
of private breeders who claim their
motive for breeding birds is, in fact,
conservation.
Christoph Imboden, director of the
International Council for Bird Preservation,
wrote, '' ... there is an
increasingly popular notion among
proponents of aviculture that captive
breeding will have to play a key role in
our species-conservation strategies.
Many argue that we should initiate
captive breeding programs not only for
threatened species but also (as a
precaution) for those which have not
yet declined to critical status:·