Defenders of Wildlife today applauds Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) for his introduction of the Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2025. This bill enshrines much needed protections for North American birds at a time when wildlife conservation laws are increasingly under threat by the Trump administration.
“For over a century, the Migratory Bird Protection Act has been a hallmark of successful, bipartisan, conservation law,” said Robert Dewey, vice president of government relations at Defenders of Wildlife. “Rep. Huffman’s update to this law would ensure that companies and organizations may be held liable for the unintentional — but not unexpected — killing of birds during industrial development. Supporting this bill should come as common sense to all those who value bipartisan solutions to wildlife protection over politically motivated attacks by the Trump administration.”
Migratory birds, ranging from greater flamingos and American white pelicans to red-winged blackbirds and bald eagles, represent some of our nation’s most iconic species. Since 1970, however, 2.9 billion birds, over a quarter of the North American population, have been lost.
The bill’s most important provision would ensure that the unauthorized take — or killing — of migratory birds, which includes those unintentionally killed or harmed by industrialization, development and other human activity, is covered under the MBTA. The bill would also provide funding for research to better understand and prevent bird species decline.
Dating back to 1918, the MBTA is one of the oldest and most successful conservation laws in the United States and, over the last century, can be credited with saving millions of birds ranging from the smallest hummingbirds to the largest raptors.
Importantly, the MBTA protects bird species that are not protected by other federal statutes, such as the Endangered Species Act.
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For inquiries, please contact Communications Director, Maggie Dewane at mdewane@defenders.org
For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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