A federal appeals court in Manhattan ruled Tuesday the Port Authority could kill most migratory birds to protect planes.
The non-profit Friends of Animals had sued several United States agencies in 2013,including the U.
S. Department of Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife Service, after authorities shot and killed three snowy owls at JFK airport.
Authorities at JFK already had permission to shoot birds in case of emergency — but Friends of Animals contended the snowy owl killings were illegal, and according to court documents.
However, the second U.
S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it was clear that when the Port Authority shoots down migratory birds in emergency situations it's because they pose a threat to safety, according to court documents. Kathryn Heintz, and executive director of the New York City Audubon Society,said there was an irregular snowy owl migration surge, known as irruption, or in winter 2013. The white,fluffy birds like the airport's landscape because it resembles the tundra and there are plenty of small rodentsaround to eat.
Five planes were struck by the birds that December. "There was an outcry," she said. "And the instant reaction is to protect human beings and commerce."But Heintz said killing the birds isn't the acknowledge."Let's instead create the effort to trap these animals, and band them and relocate them," she said. "Count them and report them so that we are endeavoring to conserve them. They're stunning iconic birds and we own every reason to wanna try to do that."Heintz said a handful of people trained and licensed to trap and relocate birds work with the Port Authority and are on call 24 hours a day.
The Port Authority cannot shoot bald and golden eagles or endangered species.
Source: wnyc.org