18 ATTACHMENT 14 - Laserfiche WebLink

5/24/2007~SEVEN CALIFORNIA `ROLLER PIGEON' ENTHUSIASTS CHARGED W... Page 2 of 4 past several years, according to court documents. One defendant told the investigating agent that he had filled afve-gallon bucket with talons that he had cut from slain hawks. The seven California defendants are affiliated with clubs that promote and compete with roller pigeons -also known as Birmingham rollers - which are native to England and have a genetic defect that causes them to flip backwards while in flight. Enthusiasts breed the pigeons with an eye toward having a group of the birds roll simultaneously, while recovering before hitting the ground. However, the distinctive nature of the birds' flight attracts predators, such as Cooper's hawks, because the in-flight flipping makes them appear to be easy targets. The seven defendants are charged with violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protects birds such as the hawks and falcons that prey upon roller pigeons. It is illegal to harass, kill or possess migratory birds, such as the Cooper's hawk, without a special permit. Criminal complaints filed May 17 in United States District Court in Los Angeles allege that the defendants used traps baited with pigeons to collect raptors and that they used sticks or pellet guns to kill the birds. In some cases, according to an affidavit, individuals admitted to the undercover agent that they used shotguns or .22-caliber rifles to shot hawks and falcons out of the air. The affidavit states that one member of the NBRC admitted to the undercover agent that he sometimes sprayed hawks with a bleach and ammonia solution, which created poisonous chlorine gas and suffocated the birds. On repeated instances, the undercover agent observed roller pigeon fanciers in Los Angeles using "goshawk" traps to capture Cooper's hawks. According to the agent's affidavit, many of the roller pigeon aficiandos openly discussed trapping, shooting and poisoning hawks and falcons. Fish and Wildlife Service agents around the country report that members of the NBRC are using the same goshawk trap found in the California investigation in the states of Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Texas, Wisconsin and New York. All of the defendants are charged with at least one count of the unlawful or attempted unlawful taking of a migratory bird. The six defendants arrested yesterday are: --Juan Navarro, 44, of the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles, who is the national president of the NBRC. -- Keith London, 42, of South Los Angeles, who is the owner of The Pigeon Connection store and is president of the Inner City Roller Club. -- Darik McGhee, 38, of San Bernardino, who builds and sells hawk traps and pigeon lofts. http://www. fws.gov/news/newsreleases/showNews. cfm?newsId=BE93 5 795-974F-4768-D... 12/5/2007