What's happening
This bill makes monk (Quaker) parakeets protected birds under New York environmental conservation law.
Why it matters
Monk (Quaker) parakeets would gain legal protection, making it illegal to harm, capture, or possess them without proper authorization, which could affect individuals and businesses dealing with wildlife.
This change reflects a shift in how New York views these birds: from being considered a nuisance or invasive species to being recognized as deserving of protection like native birds.
Protecting monk parakeets could have ecological and ethical implications, including influencing bird control practices, management of urban wildlife, and possible impacts on local ecosystems where these birds interact with other species.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Monk Parakeets
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Monk Parakeets
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3069
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 19, 2017
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to making monk (Quaker) parakeets protected birds
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 5 of section 11-0103 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 47 of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
a. "Unprotected wild birds" means the English sparrow and starling, and also includes pigeons and psittacine birds, except for monk (Quaker) parakeets, existing in a wild state, not domesticated.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05487-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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, enabling nest sites to not be disturbed intentionally without permit should the nest site be 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, it 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.
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 often trapped and euthanized as pests by exterminators.
In addition, since some of these wild birds may have been adopted as pets and are thus domesticated, they shall be excluded as an illegal species within their household.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S. 4112 - Referred to Environmental Conservation.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.