Received this in my 911 Parrot Alert digest and thought I would share with you.

Folks,

We are about to lose protection for Homing Pigeons/Banded Pigeons in the state of California as a result of the recently introduced legislation in the California Assembly. Assembly Bill 1729 (AB 1729) can be found at the following link:

AB 1729 Assembly Bill - INTRODUCED

CURRENT BILL STATUS

MEASURE : A.B. No. 1729

AUTHOR(S) : Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife (Wolk (Chair),
Maze (Vice Chair), Caballero, Huffman, Lieu, Mullin,
Nava, and Salas).

TOPIC : Fish and wildlife.

HOUSE LOCATION : ASM

TYPE OF BILL : Non-Tax Levy
Active
Non-Urgency
Non-Appropriations
Majority Vote Required
State-Mandated Local Program
Fiscal

BILL HISTORY 2007

Mar. 29 Referred to Com. on W.,P. & W.

Mar. 14 From printer. May be heard in committee April 13.

Mar. 13 Read first time. To print.

LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 03/29/2007

LAST HIST. ACTION : Referred to Com. on W.,P. & W.

COMM. LOCATION : ASM WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE

HEARING DATE : 04/18/2007

We need to act NOW to prevent this legal protection for Homing pigeons from going away. Listed here find the various links to allow you to contact the California legislators (start with those who are affected by your vote, and then contact others). Those from outside of California, please contact the American Racing Pigeon Union at these numbers:

American Racing Pigeon Union
PO Box 18465
Oklahoma City, OK 73154-0465
Tel: 405-848-5801

American Racing Pigeon Union

Karen Schuenemann
Executive Director

I just recieved the e-mail from R&E Lofts, Ellen Walley.
I am torn concerning this issue, I don't support the exploitaton of the Pigeon in any form and or manor, I rescue the Pigeon, I protect the Pigeon.
The Racing Pigeon is federally protected, but apparently only while the bird is within his/her loft according to a DNR investigators opinion.
Once the bird is released for a Race, he/she becomes open game.
I was sent this link not long ago by a fellow rescuer out of California, Pigeon Hunting!!!, I began my investigation as this happened here in my neck of the woods.
The birds on this site were slaughtered for the hell of it, these hunters even brag about getting jewelry (the leg bands) off federally protected Racing Pigeons.
I met much resistence when trying to bring these people to justice, even within the bird LOVERS world, (similar to the stray cat issue).
I began this petition http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takea...ltl=1175430245, as you can see the petition is going NO WHERE, FOLKS SIMPLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE BIRD OF PEACE (THE PIGEON).
I want all Pigeons/Doves to be protected under fedral law, but this involves such powerful groups such as the NHA, NFA, and other groups that thrive on KILLING/HUNTING, the more animals they can add to there killing list the happier the hunter, imagine shooting our symbol of peace (the Dove) for 2 oz of meat.
The activist is emerging
I will make calls, I will send out e-mails, I will beg other's to help me fight for the Pigeon, but it will come down to same thing....its easier to un-protect an animal and add to the killing list than it is to protect and stop the Killings.
I sit at the Computer and I cry, I weep badly, there is nothing more frustrating than the feeling of HELPLESSNESS.
I thank you kindly for posting this issue onto ParrotChatter, I have been very buzy, I did receive the same e-mail from the owner of 911pigeonalert.
All I can do is send out e-mails and make calls, and BEG for help, and do alot of CRYING.
Peace

Ellen also sent me this.
Here is a sample letter that can be used to send, many thanks to "Steve Souza of Rare Color Birds" for his assistance in putting this together for us.

***********************************************

To the Honorable <insert name>,

I have become aware of a recent bill (AB 1729) in California that contains provisions that are of concern to me. Specifically the removal of protections for the Homing Pigeon (Antwerp) in California. I understand from reading the bill, that the following is being repealed:

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to take any Antwerp or homing pigeon.

SEC. 68. Section 3680 of the Fish and Game Code is [to be] repealed.
3680. Any person, other than the owner thereof, who at any time, by any means or in any manner, takes any Antwerp or homing pigeon is guilty of a misdemeanor.

I believe this provision should remain law, and should NOT be repealed. I will not be able to support the repeal of this section, and cannot in good conscience support legislators who would vote for this section to be repealed.

[add your own thoughts here to personalize the note]

Sincerely,
[your name, address, and affiliation with birds]
[letters and emails without name & address are not taken seriously]

__________________________________________________ _______________


If we don't stand up and help these birds, may I ask?, just whom will?
Bird Lovers, I am speaking to YOU!!!!!!!

Here's the e-mail I received, it has more contacts, Just thought I would pass it along....

Folks,

We are about to lose protection for Homing Pigeons/Banded Pigeons in the state of California as a result of the recently introduced legislation in the California Assembly. Assembly Bill 1729 (AB 1729) can be found at the following link:

AB 1729 Assembly Bill - INTRODUCED

CURRENT BILL STATUS

MEASURE : A.B. No. 1729

AUTHOR(S) : Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife (Wolk (Chair),
Maze (Vice Chair), Caballero, Huffman, Lieu, Mullin,
Nava, and Salas).

TOPIC : Fish and wildlife.

HOUSE LOCATION : ASM

TYPE OF BILL : Non-Tax Levy
Active
Non-Urgency
Non-Appropriations
Majority Vote Required
State-Mandated Local Program
Fiscal

BILL HISTORY 2007

Mar. 29 Referred to Com. on W.,P. & W.

Mar. 14 From printer. May be heard in committee April 13.

Mar. 13 Read first time. To print.

LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 03/29/2007

LAST HIST. ACTION : Referred to Com. on W.,P. & W.

COMM. LOCATION : ASM WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE

HEARING DATE : 04/18/2007

We need to act NOW to prevent this legal protection for Homing pigeons from going away. Listed here find the various links to allow you to contact the California legislators (start with those who are affected by your vote, and then contact others). Those from outside of California, please contact the American Racing Pigeon Union at these numbers:

American Racing Pigeon Union
PO Box 18465
Oklahoma City, OK 73154-0465
Tel: 405-848-5801

American Racing Pigeon Union

Karen Schuenemann
Executive Director
<;augrow@aol.com>

-------------------------------------------

Those within California can identify their Senate and Assembly legislators at this link:

Your Legislature

-------------------------------------------

The members of the Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife (who introduced the bill) are:

(chair)
Wolk, Lois mailto:Assemblymember.wolk@assembly.ca.gov
Capitol Office
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0008
(916) 319 - 2008
(916) 319 - 2108 Fax

District Office
555 Mason Street
Suite 275
Vacaville, CA 95688
(707) 455-8025
(707) 455-0490 fax

(Vice Chair)
Bill Maze mailto:Assemblymember.maze@assembly.ca.gov

Capitol Office
State Capitol
Room 5160
Sacramento, CA 94249-0034
Phone: 916-319-2034
Fax: 916-319-2134

Visalia District Office
5959 S. Mooney Blvd
Visalia, CA 93277
Phone: 559-636-3440
Fax: 559-636-4484

Anna Caballero mailto:Assemblymember.Caballero@assembly.ca.gov

Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0028
Tel: (916) 319-2028
Fax: (916) 319-2128

District Office:
100 West Alisal Street, Suite 134
Salinas, CA 93901
Tel: (831) 759-8676
Fax: (831) 759-2961

Jared Huffman mailto:Assemblymember.Huffman@assembly.ca.gov

Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0006
Tel: (916) 319-2006
Fax: (916) 319-2106

District Offices:
County of Marin
3501 Civic Center Drive,
Room 412
San Rafael, CA 94903
Tel: (415) 479-4920
Fax: (415) 479-2123

50 D Street, Ste. 305
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Tel: (707) 576-2631
Fax: (707) 576-2735

Ted Lieu mailto:Assemblymember.Lieu@assembly.ca.gov

Capitol Office
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0053
(916) 319 - 2053
(916) 319 - 2153 Fax

District Office:
El Segundo Office
500 Center Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 615-3515
(310) 615-3520 fax

Gene Mullin mailto:Assemblymember.mullin@assembly.ca.gov

Capitol Office
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0019
(916) 319 - 2019
(916) 319 - 2119 Fax

District Office
1528 South El Camino Real
Suite 302
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 349-1900
(650) 341-4676 Fax

Pedro Nava mailto:Assemblymember.nava@assembly.ca.gov

Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0035
Tel: (916) 319-2035
Fax: (916) 319-2135

District Offices:
Santa Barbara County
101 W. Anapamu Street
Suite A
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Tel: (805) 564-1649
Fax: (805) 564-1651

Ventura County
201 E. Fourth Street
Suite 209-A
Oxnard, CA 93030
Tel: (805) 483-9808
Fax: (805) 483-8182

Mary Salas mailto:Assemblymember.Salas@assembly.ca.gov

Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0079
Tel: (916) 319-2079
Fax: (916) 319-2179

District Office:
678 Third Avenue, Suite 105
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Tel: (619) 409-7979
Fax: (619) 409-9270

Some excerpts from the proposed legislation include:

(18) Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to take any Antwerp or homing pigeon.

The bill would delete this provision.

__________________________________________________ _______________

As always I will make my not so famous statement.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BUT WILL YOU IS THE QUESTION?
Getting folks to help is the hardest issue.

I am seeing a political nightmare concerning this issue.
The feral flocks of Pigeons we see today originated from the (racing industry).
Also there's a common (disgraceful) practice amung the sport called culling, unwanted birds are destroyed, many racing folks try to keep there thoughts clean by (basket culling) this is where many birds are taken far from there home's (lofts), and released to fend for themselfs, this also adds to the feral population's found in almost every city.
Its a world of pointing fingers.
I am sure there are major political groups involved here as folks locate where the problem arrises from and addresses the issue at that level.
Folks want to continue to slaughter the Pigeon, how are they to know what Pigeon is Banded and Federally protected when the bird flies by, they can't see the band until after there killing is completed.
Sooooooo, the feral populations accross our country are growing, many cities have out right waged war on the Pigeon.
New laws are created, this time since there is a major problem with the feral populations and there is a political battle happening as the Racing people try and get the federals to protect there birds during a race, folks are now saying (enough).....
The money involved in all of this is staggering, on the (moral) point of view, Racing pigeon people kill there own birds, this known fact also removes support for the industry.
The Racing Pigeon is going to loose federal protection or all pigeons are going to be federally protected.
All I know to be true is "I love my Pigeons".