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Mitsuhiko Takahashi (Faculty of Human Development, University of Toyama, Toyama-shi, Japan) has written an essay (available free on-line) based on his presentation at a Migratory Bird Treaty Act Conference held in October 2011 at the Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, USA.

His essay deals with the history of bilateral migratory bird treaties (MBTs) signed between the USA and other countries, including Canada, Japan and Mexico.

In Section II MBT Achievements, a summary is given of Japan-USA collaboration in terms of the 1972 Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Birds in Danger of Extinction, and their Environment in conserving the Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus via the Short-tailed Albatross Recovery Team (START), which has both Japanese and US membership.  The essay draws attention to the attempt to create a new breeding colony in the Ogasawara Islands by the translocation and artificial rearing of chicks (click here to read the latest update on this effort).

Although the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species is discussed in the essay, the Albatross and Petrel Agreement is not mentioned.  The essay concludes that "[t]he network of MBTs should be expanded along with refining its contents to strengthen bird conservation".

Short-tailed Albatross.  Photograph by Hiroshi Hasegawa

To read more on the conservation efforts directed at the Short-tailed Albatross as presented at the recently-held Fifth International Albatross and Petrel Conference click here.

Click here for the Short-tailed Albatross Recovery Plan of 2008.

Reference:

Takahashi, M.A. 2012.  Migratory bird treaties' issues and potentials: are they valuable tools or just curios in the box? Based on a presentation made at a conference entitled The Migratory Bird Treaty Act: Reshaping a Powerful Conservation Tool? held at the Lewis & Clark Law School Portland, Oregon, USA, 20-22 October 2011.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 27 September 2012