Quick Answer
There are a few key considerations when deciding whether to buy birds and set them free:
- In most places, it is illegal to capture and release wild birds without permits.
- Released pet birds likely lack survival skills and can spread disease to local bird populations.
- Ethically, buying and freeing birds supports industries that may not treat birds well.
- Setting free domesticated pet birds is often unsafe for the birds.
In summary, it is not recommended to buy birds for the purpose of freeing them. Those wishing to help birds should support animal welfare and conservation organizations instead.
Is it Legal to Buy and Release Birds?
In most places, it is illegal to capture and release wild birds without permits from wildlife authorities. Well-meaning people sometimes capture wild birds to care for them or move them to new habitats. However, moving wildlife is heavily regulated as it can be harmful to ecosystems and spread disease.
For example, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States prohibits possessing, buying, selling, or transporting protected bird species or their parts (feathers, eggs, etc.) without permits [1]. Over 1,000 wild bird species are protected under this law. Violations can result in fines up to $15,000 and imprisonment.
Some states have additional laws restricting wildlife releases. In Florida, a permit is required before any captive wildlife can be released into the wild [2]. Unpermitted releases can be penalized with fines of up to $500 and 60 days imprisonment. Regulations help prevent introduced species from harming local ecosystems.
Purchasing and Releasing Captive Birds
What about purchasing captive-bred pet birds from breeders and releasing them? This is also problematic in many areas.
For example, New Zealand has strict biosecurity laws about introducing birds to natural environments.Introduced species have endangered many of New Zealand’s native birds. People require permits to keep exotic bird species as pets or release them [3].
In the UK, releasing captive birds is also regulated. The Wildlife and Countryside Act makes it illegal to release animals not ordinarily resident in the UK without a permit [4]. These laws protect local wildlife from non-native species that could spread disease.
In summary, regulations around purchasing and releasing birds exist to protect wild bird populations and ecosystems. Well-meaning bird releases often do more harm than good. Those wishing to help birds should contact local wildlife authorities to learn about legal options.
Risks of Releasing Pet Birds
Even if legal, buying pet birds from breeders or stores and releasing them into the wild poses many risks for the birds. Birds sold as pets often lack critical survival skills and knowledge compared to wild birds.
Lack of Survival Skills
Birds hatched and raised in captivity become dependent on humans for food, shelter, and other needs. They do not learn essential life skills from parents and flock-mates the way wild birds do, such as:
- Finding natural food sources
- Building nests
- Avoiding predators
- Migrating to warmer climates
- Finding and competing for resources
Without these abilities, released pet birds likely struggle to find food, shelter, mates, and avoid threats. Their chance of survival is very low. Even a successfully adjusting bird may not know to migrate or have the stamina for long flights.
Disease Risks
Captive birds may carry diseases that can spread to wild populations. For example, pet shop birds have caused outbreaks of psittacosis (parrot fever) in wild parrots [5]. Releasing unwanted pets threatens the health of native species vulnerable to new pathogens.
Quarantine and testing requirements prior to release could reduce this risk. But screening is not always done before unofficial and illegal releases. Proper precautions are important to avoid unintentionally introducing sickness.
Inability to Integrate
Without proper socialization, hand-raised pet birds may not integrate into wild flocks. Social hierarchies form early in many species. Missing key development stages makes fitting in difficult. Releases could be aggressive towards each other.
Even when accepted, ex-pets may lack social instincts and communication methods vital for wild flock interactions. This can further jeopardize survival. Proper rehabilitation training is required before any planned release.
In summary, captive-raised birds usually lack the skills and adaptations necessary for thriving in the wild. Well-meaning releases end tragically for these unprepared birds. Better options exist for helping unwanted pet birds.
Ethical Concerns With the Pet Bird Industry
The pet bird trade removes many birds from the wild for sale. Some practices involved raise ethical concerns about financially supporting the business by purchasing birds.
Wild Bird Capture
Many species sold in pet stores are still captured from natural habitats, depleting wild populations. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) aims to ensure this sourcing is sustainable, but illegal trade persists. Research estimated hundreds of thousands of wild-caught birds are sold annually in local Indonesian markets alone [6]. Unsustainable wild bird capture continues supplying the pet trade.
Inhumane Transport
Wild-caught birds and captive-bred species shipped internationally often travel extensively by plane. Packed in small crates for days or weeks, mortality rates during transport are high. 10% or more can die before reaching retailers [7]. Scientific reviews have urged reforms to improve shipping conditions and reduce suffering and losses [8]. But inhumane transport persists under current practices.
Health and Welfare in Captive Breeding Facilities
Large captive breeding facilities, especially in non-regulated regions, sometimes raise birds in overcrowded, stressful conditions. Neglecting behavioral needs and maintaining unhygienic aviaries leads to high rates of illness and death [9]. Lack of oversight allows unethical breeders to maximize profits over animal well-being.
While many reputable aviculturists exist, substandard breeders also supply retailers due to industry demand. Supporting disreputable supply chains incentivizes continued mistreatment. Vetting sources carefully is important but not always guaranteed.
In summary, while the pet bird trade offers many opportunities for legal and ethical sourcing, some key practices remain in need of reform to improve animal welfare. Conscientious consumers should research retailers’ policies and sources when purchasing birds. Supporting organizations that source sustainably and treat birds humanely helps raise industry standards.
Alternatives to Buying and Releasing Birds
For those whose goal is helping captive birds or protecting wild species, more effective options exist than buying pets to set free. Several methods avoid the risks to birds and legal penalties:
Donate to Reputable Sanctuaries
Responsible bird sanctuaries provide lifetime care for previously captive parrots, parakeets and other birds in need. Donating to or volunteering with sanctuaries supports their rescue efforts and daily expenses to house and feed rescued birds. These organizations offer birds a permanent home without risks of releasing unprepared pets.
Foster Unwanted Birds Temporarily
Foster programs through bird welfare groups coordinate temporary homes for pet birds whose owners can no longer care for them. Volunteers provide food, shelter and socialization for fostered birds until a well-screened adopter can be found. This helps ensure birds transition to permanent homes safely without jeopardizing welfare.
Support Conservation Groups
Donating to reputable wildlife conservation non-profits aids efforts to protect habitats and threatened wild bird populations globally. Funds may support research, education campaigns, anti-poaching patrols and more to address urgent threats species face in nature. This targets root problems endangering populations.
Fund Rehabilitation Centers
In permitted cases, injured, orphaned or seized wild birds require professional rehabilitation before returning to the wild. Donations and volunteers enable non-profit centers to give medical treatment and survival skills training needed for successful releases. This helps individual birds ethically without illegal releases.
Advocate for Reforms
Campaigning against problematic wild bird trade practices urges policy reforms for long-term change. Publicity and policy initiatives promote enforceable regulations to end unsustainable captures. Advocacy also improves oversight and welfare standards within commercial bird breeding worldwide.
In summary, supporting reputable organizations through donations, volunteering, or promoting improved legislation and enforcement globally provides ethical alternatives to purchasing pet birds for release.
Conclusion
Releasing pet birds into natural environments is unsafe for the birds and usually unlawful. Purchasing birds solely to set them free also raises ethical concerns when funding irresponsible pet trade suppliers. Those wishing to aid bird welfare are advised to explore options like supporting conservancies and sanctuaries. More humane practices within the aviculture business should be advocated for as well. Initiatives preserving wild populations and habitats will grant long-term benefits over risky releases of individual pets. Well-meaning but uninformed pet bird releases often do harm, despite good intentions. Educating the public on safer, more effective alternatives is key to ending the practice.
References
- [1] U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (2018). Migratory Bird Treaty Act Protected Species. https://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/migratory-bird-treaty-act.php
- [2] Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (2020). Captive Wildlife. https://myfwc.com/license/captive-wildlife/
- [3] Ministry for Primary Industries. (2021). Birds as Pets. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/law-and-policy/legal-overviews/animal-welfare/birds-as-pets/
- [4] The Wildlife Trusts. (n.d.). Wildlife & Countryside Act. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-and-countryside-act
- [5] Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. (2004). The Global Trade in Birds. https://www.ufaw.org.uk/downloads/the-global-trade-in-birds.pdf
- [6] Jepson, P. & Ladle, R.J. (2005). Bird-keeping in Indonesia: conservation impacts and the potential for substitution-based conservation responses. Oryx, 39(4), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605305001110
- [7] Warwick, C., Steedman, C., Jessop, M., Arena, P., Pilny, A., & Nicholas, E. (2018). Exotic pet suitability: Understanding some problems and utilizing a labeling system to aid animal welfare, environment, and consumer protection. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 26, 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.03.015
- [8] Schuppli, C.A., Fraser, D. & Higginbottom, K. (2014). Welfare of Non-traditional Pets. Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics), 33(1), 221-231. https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.33.1.2286
- [9] Warwick, C. (2014). The morality of the reptile “pet” trade. Journal of Animal Ethics, 4(1), 74-94. https://doi.org/10.5406/janimalethics.4.1.0074