Trump Administration Rolls Back Protections for Migratory Birds

Trump Is Coming For The Birds Again

The Trump administration moved on Friday to weaken protections for migratory birds threatened by industrial activities, including oil and gas operations. Acting Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Gregory Zerzan restored an opinion from the first Trump administration that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) "does not apply to the accidental or incidental taking or killing of migratory birds," despite the fact that this opini…

Trump Administration Rolls Back Protections for Migratory Birds

The Trump administration late last week reinstated a dangerous opinion under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act from the president’s first term that allows extractive energy industries to harm or kill migratory birds in the name of seeking energy dominance. The opinion on incidental take exempts industries from being held accountable for the unintentional, but foreseeable, killing of birds during industrial activities.“Rolling back these kinds of pro…

City of Toronto kicks off “Lights Out Toronto” campaign to protect migratory birds

News Release April 15, 2025 The arrival of spring in Toronto is the start of one of two annual migration seasons that bring millions of birds travelling through the city. Toronto’s metropolitan features, like other large urban areas, pose dangers to migratory birds. An estimated 25 million birds are killed each year across Canada due […]

Trump Administration Revives Effort To Weaken Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The Trump administration is reinstating, despite a judge's ruling, plans to weaken the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which helps protect numerous species, including the Great Blue Heron/USFWSFive years after a federal judge blocked Trump administration efforts during his first term to weaken the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MTBA), the president has reinstated the same provisions across most of the country.At issue is whether businesses can be liable …

Missouri Birders Needed for 2025 Breeding Bird Survey

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is calling on bird enthusiasts across the state to lend their eyes and ears to science. Volunteers are needed to assist with eight vacant bird-observation routes as part of the 2025 North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), running May 27 through July 7. This vital, long-running survey collects data to monitor the health and trends of bird populations across North America. MDC is specifically seekin…