The images of striking blue and gold macaws soaring or birds
snuggling in a tree are powerful. People see these magnificent
birds in the wild, and they want to own one. Birds are the third
most popular pets in the world, but unfortunately, this
overwhelming desire has led to the demise of many parrot
species, as buyers purchase wild-caught birds instead of those
that are captive-bred. Even with regulations in place -- the
Endangered Species Act, the Wild Bird Conservation Act, and a
ban under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES) -- millions of wild birds find themselves
stuffed in boxes or bags headed for the black market. Yellow-
headed Amazons, for example, sell for $800 to $1500 each in the
United States. Most die in transit, but those who make it are
sure never to return to their natural habitat. More recently, a
Florida federal judge fined Adolph Pare $300,000 and sentenced
him to a year in prison for illegally importing more than 4,000
African Grey parrots from Zaire and Se