Makes psittacine birds, especially Monk (Quaker) Parakeets, protected birds

2 Co-sponsors

• Bill Perkins
• Antoine M. Thompson

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to making monk (Quaker) parakeets protected birds

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would protect Monk (Quaker) parakeets. Protecting Monk parakeets enables nest sites to not be disturbed intentionally without permit, unless the nest site is a matter of imminent threat to public safety.

Summary of provisions

An amendment is made to paragraph A of subdivision 5 of section 11-0103 of the Environmental Conservation Law, as amended by chapter 47 of the laws of 1976, to read that Monk (Quaker) parakeets are to be protected in New York state.

Justification

Currently, wild Quaker Parakeets (a/k/a Monk Parakeets, species Myiopsitta monachus), are unprotected in New York state. As these highly intelligent birds have resided in the New York city area for some forty years, i.t is requested that they be placed in "Protected" status by amending the New York State Environmental Conservation Laws. Protected status allows for the removal of nest sites through the issuance of permits.

Because the Quaker parakeet is a wild bird, its natural habitat is outdoors in its own environment. If measures can be implemented allowing for this wild species to reside naturally in its natural habitat, it is our intention then to legislate a State law calling for the issuance of (a) permit{s) before a nest site can be removed due to being an imminent threat to public safety.

Quaker parakeets are not harmful to the environment, have not displaced and been a threat to any native species, and have not been proven to cause damage to any public utilities. Although they are considered pests by some because of the nature of their nest building, they are - as a result of this rash thinking - trapped and euthanized as pests by exterminators.

There are methods of nest removal that can be implemented without negatively impacting on the flock survival, and without causing death to flock members.

The Quaker parakeets have been known to build their nests on lighting platforms or in structural spires where there is no consistency of warmth. Quaker parakeets have and continue to build nest sites on utility poles, within cemeteries and park locations, to name a few.

Finally, because some of these wild birds may have been adopted as pets and are thus domesticated, they shall be excluded from being illegal in a household.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.