federal arrests

[Roland]

Pigeon hobbyists held

Area men accused of killing thousands of protected raptors

By Rod Leveque, Staff Writer

Article Launched: 05/24/2007 11:45:29 PM PDT

 

Four local pigeon enthusiasts were among a handful of men arrested this week on federal charges alleging they illegally trapped and killed thousands of protected hawks and falcons.

 

Prosecutors said the men, all of whom are associated with Southern California "roller pigeon" clubs, targeted Cooper's hawks, red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons because of the raptors' natural tendency to attack and eat the pet pigeons.

Wildlife officials said it appears SoCal pigeon club members have killed as many as 2,000 of the raptors per year for the last several years - a large enough number to potentially knock the local ecosystem out of whack - all in the name of protecting their flocks.

"These are predatory birds - they're at the top of the food chain," said Lisa Nichols, a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"When you take any predator out of the ecosystem you create a huge imbalance in that ecosystem."

The four local men were among seven Southern California residents arrested this week as part of a nationwide investigation into the illegal killings of hawks and falcons.

Federal authorities identified them as Darik McGhee, 38, of San Bernardino; Brian McCormick, 40, of Norco; Timothy Decker, 60, of Mira Loma; and Rayvon Hall, 46, of Rialto.

Two Los Angeles men, including the president of a national roller pigeon club, and a man from Hacienda Heights were also arrested.

All have pleaded not guilty to charges in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

Investigators said the men are all involved in clubs that breed and fly roller pigeons, which are also known as Birmingham Rollers. The pigeons are bred with a genetic defect that causes them to flip and tumble toward the ground as they fly.

Enthusiasts hold competitions in which they try to get groups of birds to tumble simultaneously and fall as far as possible without slamming into the ground.

Biologists said the awkward flight of the birds can make them appear injured or vulnerable, which attracts the attention of predatory raptors, who target them for food.

Special agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service infiltrated several roller pigeon clubs in March 2006 and discovered members were routinely trapping and killing hawks and falcons.

Such birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The act makes it illegal to harass, kill or possess them without a permit.

According to a federal arrest warrant affidavit, most of the suspects used large, wooden traps baited with pigeons to capture hawks in their back yards. Once the birds were trapped, the men shot them with pellet guns or small-caliber rifles, or beat them with sticks, and then discreetly disposed of the bodies.

Hall allegedly told an undercover investigator he sometimes killed the predators by spraying them in the face with a poisonous mixture of bleach and ammonia.

According to the affidavit, McGhee made and sold the traps used by many of the other men.

He also claimed to have used them himself and boasted to the undercover agent that he had killed so many hawks that he was able to fill a five-gallon bucket with talons he sliced off the carcasses, according to the affidavit.

Several pigeon aficionados said Thursday that it appears to them the hawk population has boomed over the last two years, and there are now so many hawks in the sky that pigeon collectors can rarely fly their birds in safety.

Nearly everyone in the pigeon community knows killing raptors is illegal, but some do it anyway because they see no alternative for protecting their flocks, they said.

Fernando Avalos, vice president of the California New Line Roller Club in Norwalk, said his group does not condone killing raptors, but he understands the frustration of the hobbyists who do.

"They are in the wrong, but what can they do to protect their birds?" Avalos said. "You can't even let your birds out anymore. I've kept mine in for a month."

One hawk can decimate an entire flock of pigeons, he said. The pigeons cost anywhere from $5 to $100 apiece.

Nichols, however, said hobbyists who breed birds that are attractive to predators and then fly them in the natural habitat of the predators have no business complaining when the predators come calling.

She said they either need to accept the losses or find another hobby to occupy their time.

"They've created a hobby that has certain risks," she said. "It's like telling a race-car driver to not drive fast because it's too dangerous."

Authorities dubbed their investigation into the bird deaths "Operation High Roller."

All of the defendants are charged with at least one count of unlawful taking of a migratory bird, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of six months in federal prison.

In addition to the California arrests, federal authorities have also filed similar charges against three men in Oregon and one in Texas.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Johns said an investigation is ongoing and more charges and arrests are possible.

[Guest TAMMY_1]

a pity they were caught

[Bluedoo]

"When you take any predator out of the ecosystem you create a huge imbalance in that ecosystem."

 

So the converse must be true. Pity the RSPB didn't think that one through, before releasing thousands of raptors. Or is yet another case of one law for them and stuff the rest of you and your ecosystem.

[Guest]

While I agree with the previous posts, publicity like this does us all a lot of harm - down to no-brainers with loud mouths on both sides?

[DOVEScot]

It seems funny that our fellow man can complain about ecosystems

 

If a wolf exsisted would a farmer be prosecuted for protecting his sheep.....na

 

In london they employ a falkner to keep down the population of pigeons, would they set aside parts of london to reset the balance of nature.....na

 

If an predator/raptor moved into the tower of london and devistated the rooks would they protect it....na

 

And if we all were to became ecofriendly then where would it stop, life would be great, or would it, if every thing was run in accrdance with the ecosystem....na

[Beanz]

Maybe they should deport them over here because we will get no change from the RSPB that their poor hawks are not to blame for the demise of the bird populationa nd they can't possibly kill racing pigeons, shouldn't prosecute should give them a medal.

[Guest]

it could only happen in america they like to lay it on quite thick to well as thick as themselves ,did they care about the eco system during the war years ,who kept it in check then ,just take a look around it is getting out of hand more and more small birds dissapearing due to magpies crows etc who is their predator ,