Abstract
Where are we going in the '90s? The
main challenges facing aviculture in
the '90s will be the threats posed by
avian viral diseases and by proposed
and present restrictive regulations and
laws. As we face these threats and
work together to solve our problems,
a new era of cooperation is being
established in American aviculture.
Avian viral diseases have been with
us a long time; we just have not
always been able to identify them,
prevent them or cure them. Veterinary
research on viral diseases has
advanced to the stage where many
viral diseases have been identified
and, hopefully, tests for their presence
and vaccines for their prevention will
become available. What can we aviculturists
do to assist in speeding up
this process? Funding is the critical
element needed to solve the problem
of viral diseases. Bird clubs and individuals
can donate directly to research
projects. Aviculturists can participate
in fund-raising events where the proceeds
are donated to research.
Restrictive laws and regulations are
present in many cities, counties, states
and now nationally. We do expect
further restrictive legislation to be
proposed on the state level as various
animal rights organizations push forward
their agenda: no exotic pets! and
no birds in cages/We also know that a
lawsuit has been brought in federal
court against the U.S.D.A. to force
them to monitor/ inspect rats, mice
and birds. (The belief is that their concern
is mostly for those in laboratory
research or in public exhibitions.)
On the local level, individual aviculturists
and club members need to
monitor proposed changes in their
city and county ordinances as there is
an active movement towards changing
these ordinances to be very restrictive
in terms of defining what kinds of
pets and how many pets can be kept.
This includes property from condominium
size to five acre farms. Constant
vigilance on the local level will
be needed to preserve your right to
keep and breed birds.
The AFA will be monitoring state
and national legislation through the
many eyes and ears of the state coordinators,
vice presidents and watchful
individual aviculturists. One of the
concerns that has been voiced is that
of the rise in smuggling due to the
restrictive nature of the Wild Bird
Conservation Act and due to the
increased opportunities presented by
the changes resulting from the implementation
of NAFTA. AFA is concerned
about smuggling from two
standpoints: it is a threat to the health
of our exotic birds; it brings the threat
of more restrictions on aviculturists
(proposed by USFWS in attempts to
control smuggling). We expect continued
attempts on the part of various
government agencies and organized
animal rights groups to place restrictions
and regulations on the owners of
exotic birds, whether they are pet bird
owners with two or three birds or
breeders with large collections. In
preparation for the continued onslaughts
on aviculture, the Board of
Directors of AF A voted unanimously
at their fall meeting to establish a legal
defense fund to be used to protect the
interests of aviculture through whatever
legal means becomes necessary.
As we face the problems of viral disease
and restrictive legislation, we
also find ourselves in a new era of
cooperation among aviculturists. This
positive situation has been generated
out of the recognition that if we are
going to have viable populations of
breeding birds of various species in
the future, we must work together
today to achieve that goal. Suddenly,
aviculturists who have avoided record
keeping have begun to keep records,
to band birds and to microchip birds.
Identifying an individual bird
becomes important for selecting a
non-related mate, thus maintaining
genetic viability for future breeding
stock. Aviculturists breeding similar
species are working together in breeding
programs, sharing stock and sharing
information (for example, the new
American Lory Association). Serious
breeders continue to seek new information
in their concern about nutrition,
breeding behavior, and improvement
of management practices. Many
of these breeders attend avian seminars
such as the Midwest A vi an
Research Expo. An interest in maintaining
and meeting standards of
exotic bird care is displayed by many
aviculturists and exemplified by those
certified by the Model A viculture
Program. In order to provide a needed
service, the AFA is preparing a
national registry which will make it
possible for individuals to register
their exotic birds, whether pets or
breeding birds. Also, AFA is preparing
information for individuals and clubs
who wish to participate in a cooperative
breeding program for a particular
species. These programs will meet the
needs of positive identification for
individual birds and provision of a
genealogy on breeding birds. •