Before you jump on any bandwagon, read any bill carefully, as well as responses to the bill. You can track the progress of a national bill at www.govtrack.us and the progress of a state bill at http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us.

Will it affect our status as companion bird keepers?  Links to the text of the bill itself, as well as to the responses of other reputable sources including World Parrot Trust, are listed below.

To read the original text of the bill, click on the link: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-669

For the WPT's perspective:  http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/05/world_parrot_trust_speaks_out.php

For additional perspectives, click on the following links:
http://www.nohr669.com/

http://nohr669.com/blog/?p=223

JANUARY 11, 2011 - NYS Assembly Member Rosenthal introduced the following quaker legislation into the State Assembly on 1/11/11:

A01767 Relates to the sale of birds by pet dealers (and referred to the Assembly Agriculture Committee)
A01718 Makes Monk (Quaker) parakeets protected birds (referred to the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee)

If you wish to send letters regarding this legislation, the following addresses may be useful:

Hon. Linda B. Rosenthal, 230 West 72nd St., 2nd Fl., Suite 2F, New York, NY 10023
Hon. William Magee, Chair NYS Assembly Agriculture Committee, 214 Farrier Ave., Oneida, NY 13421
Hon. Audrey Pheffer, Chair, Assembly Consumer Affairs Comm., 108-14 Crossbay Blvd., Ozone Park, NY 11417
Hon. Robert Sweeney, Chair, Assembly Environmental Conservation Comm., 640 West Montauk Hwy., Lindenhurst, NY 11757-3708.

JANUARY 6, 2011 - 

NY State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr., reintroduced the following bills on in the NY State Senate (please note the new bill numbers):

-S01255 Makes Monk (Quaker) parakeets, protected birds (also cosponsored by Sen. Perkins)
-S01246 Enables the "monk parakeet protection act"
(Both above have already been referred to the NY State Senate Environmental Conservation Committee)

S01253 Relates to the sale of birds by pet dealers (referred to the NY State Senate Agriculture Committee)

If you are interested in writing a friendly letter of support the following addresses may be of use:

NY State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., 159-53 102nd Street, Howard Beach, NY 11414.
Your local NY State Senator.
The new Chairs of the State Senate Agriculture and Environmental Conservation Committees:
     -Sen. Mark Grisanti  (grisanti@nysenate.gov) - The NY Senate Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee
     -Sen. Patty Ritchie, (ritchie@nysenate.gov), 315-782-3418 - Chair of the Senate Agriculture & Markets Committee

At the time of this post, quaker legislation has not been reintroduced in the State Assembly.
     -A7688A (Makes Monk Parakeets protected birds)
     -A7694C (the sale of birds in pet shops).

If you are interested in pursuing such legislation in the State Assembly the following addresses may be of use:

-Hon. Linda B. Rosenthal, 230 West 72nd St., 2nd Fl., Suite 2F, New York, NY 10023
-Hon. William Magee, Chair NYS Assembly Agriculture Committee, 214 Farrier Ave., Oneida, NY 13421
-Hon. Audrey Pheffer, Chair, Assembly Consumer Affairs Comm., 108-14 Crossbay Blvd., Ozone Park, NY 11417
-Hon. Robert Sweeney, Chair, Assembly Environmental Conservation Comm., 640 West Montauk Hwy., Lindenhurst, NY 11757-3708.

The Summary of submitted comments in Appendix N, includes the following quote:

At present, Quaker parrots, Nanday conures, and Ringneck parakeets remain on Appendix J, though not as a priority study bird. As such study of these birds for “invasiveness or non-invasiveness” is not a current priority. Thus these parrot species have not been exempted from regulation nor have they received any type of protected status at this time. This status may or may not change as future lists are developed.

MARCH 31, 2010 - The New York Invasive Species Council released a report for public comment (http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/63402.html). The report does not propose a listing for Monk Parakeet.  Rather, the monk parakeet is listed (in Appendix J, line 59 on p. 114, under Assessment Priorities), as a species that should be assessed via the recommended process.  You will note that monk parakeet does not have an asterisk indicating it has not been identified as a priority for the initial assessments. Basically, the Council feels that the Quakers do not pose enough of an environmental threat to be studied right now, nor categorized.

Interested people may want to go to the web site (http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/63402.html), read the report, and comment.

Those who comment may or may not want to suggest that the Monk (use Monk since the State does) remain as an unregulated species. It is possible that if Quakers are legally  categorized as unregulated, they may avoid documentation as invasive, or they may be reprioritized to reduce  scrutiny by NYSDEC. However, without any laws protecting wild Monks, these birds may continue being the subject of poaching and inhumane nest take-downs.

At present a Monk Parakeet Protection Act is being developed to afford some protection to wild-born Quakers. Just like the County and City of San Francisco afforded their wild Conures a degree of protection years ago, the state of NY can provide protection to wild Quakers here. Such protection would need to be offered by the state, as Quakers are documented in NYC’s 5 boroughs and other areas, most notably lower Westchester. Any Quakers presently living in Nassau or Suffolk Counties need to be documented immediately, to assist ongoing initiatives.

Persons interested in commenting on this resolution (and one does not have to be a NYC resident) may write to:
1.  Hon. Tony Avella, 38-50 Bell Blvd., Suite C, Bayside, NY 11361
2.  Hon. James F. Gennaro, Chair, Env. Prot. Committee, 185-10 Union Tpke., Fresh Meadows, NY 11366.

Individuals wishing to comment on either or both sets of bills should write to their local State Senator and local State Assembly member, asking them to support the bills and become a co-sponsor. In addition, copies of those letters should be sent to:
1.  Hon. Linda B. Rosenthal, NY State Assembly Member, 230 West 72nd Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 2F, New York, NY 10023
2.  Hon. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., NY State Senator, 159-53 102nd Street, Howard Beach, NY 11414

Individuals wishing to comment on either or both sets of bills should write to their local State Senator and local State Assembly member, asking them to support the bills and become a co-sponsor. In addition, copies of those letters should be sent to:
1.  Hon. Linda B. Rosenthal, NY State Assembly Member, 230 West 72nd Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 2F, New York, NY 10023
2.  Hon. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., NY State Senator, 159-53 102nd Street, Howard Beach, NY 11414

Persons interested in commenting on this resolution (and one does not have to be a NYC resident) may write to:
1.  Hon. Tony Avella, 38-50 Bell Blvd., Suite C, Bayside, NY 11361
2.  Hon. James F. Gennaro, Chair, Env. Prot. Committee, 185-10 Union Tpke., Fresh Meadows, NY 11366.