Zoom-Hosted Presentation (advance registration required)   

6:45-7:00PM Social time with fellow members, guests, and presenter 

About the Program 

Captain Jay Marvin will talk to us about the widespread illegal trapping of songbirds in South Florida. He will describe what FWC has been doing to stem the activity, show us the types of illegal traps used to capture birds, and tell us how we can support FWC’s efforts to protect our wild bird population from being mistreated and sometimes killed or injured when illegally trapped.  

Besides the daunting challenges migrating passerines face from natural predators and the forces of nature along their perilous journey, these songbirds must also contend with unscrupulous poachers who use illegal traps to capture and sell them on the black market, fetching hundreds of dollars.  

While the Migratory Bird Act makes trapping songbirds illegal in the United States, a profitable black market in songbirds continues to thrive, particularly in South Florida, where the birds are kept for their beauty or for use in illegal singing competitions. Fortunately, in 2019, FWC passed a new regulation that makes it easier to charge and prosecute unscrupulous songbird poachers. 

If you see instances of illegal trapping, you can report it to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or by email or text to Tip@MyFWC.com.  

About Captain Jay Marvin 

Captain Jay Marvin has been in law enforcement with the State of Florida since 1995. He received his Bachelor of Science in Geography and Cartography from Florida State University. Captain Marvin is also President of the Florida Marine Intelligence Unit.