Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) rules could change!

Snow Geese above pond Photo Credit: Dick Walker

WHAT? The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is proposing new MBTA rule that will result in greater losses of migratory birds!

  • Eliminates penalties for industry/entities that “unintentially” kill birds/nests 
  • Removes incentives to prevent harming or killing migratory birds
    (e.g. Deepwater Horizon killed 1 million birds and BP had to pay $100 million to restore bird habitat; that would go away with the new rule)
  • Removes critical funding derived from those penalties for needed habitat/ bird restoration following damages to birds;
  • Ignores economic benefits of birds;
  • Increases risks of harm/death of birds which is against the MBTA purpose.

HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?  

COMMENT by March 19, 2020

Go directly toFederal Rulemaking MBTA comment Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0090-0001

OR

MAIL/HAND DELIVER COMMENTS TO: 

Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0090
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
MS: JAO/1N; 5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.

Mention that you do not support rule changes because:

  1. Birds provide significant ecological and economic services because they:
    • Reseed the planet and pollinate a great many plants;
    • Forage on costly insect pests in both forests and agricultural areas;
    • Help recycle millions of animals that die annually;
    • Contribute an estimated $88 billion/year to national economy in bird watching alone;
    • Provide 10 billion in taxes to federal/state agencies;
    • Provide profound cultural benefits through viewing, singing, nature.
  2. USFWS focused on benefits of new rules to industry/entities (cost them less) but did not compare those benefits to the lost social/economic benefits more birds dying.
  3. Need strong incentives for companies, individuals, and industry to avoid or mitigate impacts to migratory birds and penalties to restore the habitat or bird populations that were directly impacted;
  4. The rule is inconsistent with the intent of the MBTA;
  5. Remind them that peer-reviewed research indicates that we have lost 3 billion birds over the last 50 years even with our relatively strong protections in place. 

More information:

COMMENT BY MARCH 19, 2020. THANK YOU!