Leading US aviculturalist has 111 parrots seized
By Charlie • November 10, 2009 • 6 commentsMembers of the American Federation for Aviculture constantly state how much they care for ‘their’ birds and how lovingly they treat them. I wonder how they’re reacting to news that an inspector visiting the home of Laura McManus, AFA’s Western Regional Director found cages that “appeared not to have been cleaned in weeks” and that she is now “facing several charges…including cruelty to animals, the endangerment of the health and life of an animal, failure to remove feces and…charges related to the lack of potable water”. No doubt with excuses of some sort…(Thanks to Monica Engebretson, Born Free USA for the heads-up)
Looking for a good book or field guide? We've got some suggestions...
I am sure Laura McManus was so busy supporting nature conservation and reintroduction projects that she forgot.
You’re a kind man Jochen, a kind man. Here was I thinking she was some sort of hypocritice who has shown an astonishing lack of interest in ‘her birds’ welfare, but - no - you’re probably right…maybe we should set up an Appeal Fund to help her out so she has less to worry about and can focus on cleaning those filthy cages…oh, I forgot, her birds were seized so there’s none to clean now…oh well, on the bright side at least she has more time to do all those good works now without having to worry about what’s going on at home
Yes, you are right.
Maybe 10,000Birds could raise money to support sending McManus to Manu in Peru (red pun-alert, red pun-alert) so she can really bring in all her expertize and boost local parrot conservation effords?
Denigration of this lady is unwarranted.
I disagree. It’s entirely warranted.
Yeah, that’s bad. I am disappointed, since I thought that AFA was the last hope (based on the quality of their publication) among American aviculture.
And after exhausting myself for 5 months as president of a local avicultural group (during which time someone whom I thought was a friend threatened to sue me for having exposed fraud, corruption, and abuse among low-life bird brokers trying to swindle the board and others . . .), I am not about to rush to the defence of so-called “aviculturists.” I was prepared for the stupidity of those people; I was not prepared for the corruption. Finches are not even that profitable!
The other national groups are full of activists who have a knee-jerk reaction to anything that HSUS happens to support. I am not a big fan of federal regulation of anything (bird-related or not), but some of the “arguments” these people make are just embarrassing.
And the show culture does not really fit into the goal of conservation at all. I understand showing of Zebra Finches (which are no longer exported and long domesticated), but it is just a sport without any technical merit. And why would anyone put a waxbill in a tiny show cage for even one moment? It is just silly and again, embarrassing.
Nevertheless, we or they (since I am not sure where my place is anymore) are not all bad. Aviculture in the States as I see it does not quite meet my expectations owing to the rampant cronyism (which warrants respect for ignorant and undeserving breeders and condemnation for anyone who challenges them, especially if he is under 30 years of age and has more than secondary school education)and the rabid rightists. But there still are a few good people and some positive outcomes.