ASIAN SONGBIRD TRADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
“Our eyes and brain like to play tricks with us. We hear and see birds in the wild surrounded by lush greenery, and it makes us happy. We see birds in a cage, and it still makes us happy, as our eyes zoom in on birds and our brain erases the cage from our consciousness. Artists, especially those who draw from life, have skills to resist our brain tricks and find the strength to notice the cage, make it obvious and attract others’ attention to the caged bird trade issue.” -Sofiya Shukhova
Why Are ASIAN SONGBIRDS Important?
Just like other birds, Asian songbirds are crucially important for forest health. They provide valuable ecosystem services by dispersing seeds, pollinating plants and controlling insect populations. Extinction or removal of the Asian songbirds from their natural habitat may be extremely damaging to human and non-human animals alike.
Birds are not only important for our survival, but also for our happiness. Research shows that living in an area with a rich diversity of birds can bring as much happiness to people as money. This may be particularly true for songbirds, as they are often kept as pets due to their singing abilities.
what are the challenges facing ASIAN SONGBIRDS?
Like many other bird species, Asian songbirds are threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, climate change, pollution (including pesticides and noise pollution) and collisions with man-made structures.
The main driver of the songbird population decline and species extinction is trapping for the caged bird trade. In Southeast Asia, keeping songbirds is seen as a social status symbol driving demand for domestic and international trade. With additional demand for religious releases and songbird competitions, this trade causes catastrophic decline in songbird population, a phenomenon known as the Asian songbird crisis.
what can WE do to help?
STUDY ASIAN SONGBIRD TRADE
Learn more about Asian songbird trade on the IUCN SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group website. It has a list of scientific papers and other resources. If scientific language scares you, read articles in Mongabay, The New York Times and The Revelator.
Watch ‘Tainted Love’ documentary to better understand the cultural significance of songbird keeping in Indonesia and the trade’s drivers.
Listen to interviews and podcasts with leading researchers studying the Asian songbird trade, and try to understand what it feels like to be a scientist on the bird market by watching the ‘Inside the Illegal Songbird Trade in Indonesia’ video.
Follow songbird scientists and conservation groups on social media.
For additional resources, visit IUCN SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group, TRAFFIC, Silent Forest campaign, Birdlife International and Monitor Conservation Research Society.
Do your own research to find out more about this conservation topic and how you can help. Be mindful of what you read and watch, some writers do not use science-based information.
celebrate ASIAN SONGBIRDs
Introduce your family, friends and colleagues to the Asian songbirds and threats that they are facing. Chester Zoo’s ‘Sign for Songbirds’ page and learning resources will furnish you with fun facts and other useful information to spark an interest in this topic among kids and adults.
Support artists who create art about Asian songbirds. Creature Conserve and the IUCN SSC Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group often share songbird art on their pages.
Create your own artworks about Asian songbirds and share them with the world. Use #CreatureConserve #SongbirdArt hashtags when posting them online.
protect ASIAN SONGBIRDs
Question your pet choice. If you are looking for a pet, consider adopting a cat or a dog instead of buying a songbird. It is extremely difficult to meet birds’ needs in captivity. If, for some reason, you still decided to buy a songbird, make sure it is a legally sold captive-bred individual. If the songbird is a CITES-listed species, ensure that the seller has a valid CITES permit for that bird. Additional permits may be needed in different countries.
Spread the word about the Asian songbird crisis and urge your family, friends and colleagues not to support the illegal Asian songbird trade.
Donate to organizations tackling songbird conservation and conducting research.