Protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) in sight for the Northern Giant Petrel

The Northern Giant Petrel spotted off the coast of Washington in 2019 and reported on by ACAP in January 2020, photograph by Zed Blue

The Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli is one of 16 birds the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is proposing to add to the list of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).

The list reflects changes in taxonomy and accepted use, as well as new evidence regarding the natural occurrence or absence of species in the United States or U.S. territories. The inclusion of the Northern Giant Petrel is based on new distributional records documenting its occurrence in the United States or U.S. territories. 

In January of 2020, ACAP Latest News reported on the sighting of a Northern Giant Petrel from a fishing vessel off the coast of Washington, USA in the North Pacific on 8 December 2019. 

The proposal would add 16 species and remove three, bringing the total number of species protected by the MBTA to 1,106. Names changes would affect 30 other listings. 

Although the USA regularly attends and contributes to ACAP meetings, and despite repeated bipartisan efforts over the years to introduce enabling legislation to its House of Representatives, it is not yet a Party to the Agreement. ACAP and the National Audubon Society have previously reported on the efforts by the USA to become a Party to ACAP. 

The proposed Revised List of Migratory Birds made by the USFWS is available here, and comments can be submitted on the proposal through February 10, 2023.

21 December 2022