Utah to build giant fence to end illegal bird migration

The Utah State Legislature announced plans today to construct a 20-ft tall barbed-wire fence around the entire state, with the purpose of keeping out several intrusive, non-native bird species. The list of foreign species includes the Canada Goose, the Baltimore Oriole, the California Condor, the Eurasian Wigeon, and the Nashville Warbler. Other species not yet on the list but under close review are the Harlequin Duck, the Hairy Woodpecker, the Bushtit, the Dickcissel, and Wild Turkey (the whiskey, not the actual bird). The American White Pelican has been invited to stay due to the fact that it is considered all-American, rather than having originated from a single state. Its cousins the Irish Black & Tan Pelican and the Italian Pelicannini, however, are still on the list.

The Turkey Vulture was originally placed on the list, but central Utah-based turkey growing plant Norbest Inc. has lobbied intensely to have it removed. “Calling the turkey an intrusive species is like calling the state bird an intrusive species—it just don’t make no sense,” said Norbest Inc. CEO John Hall. When asked if he differentiated between the Turkey Vulture and an actual turkey, he responded, “Differ-what? Boy, you ain’t speakin’ my language. All I can tell you is that if you ban the turkey, you’re basically banning freedom. Now you tell me—is it worth it?” While the potential economic repercussions of banning the Turkey Vulture are being investigated, as well as any relation between the Turkey Vulture and just regular turkeys, the bird will reside in a state of legal limbo, awaiting final say from the legislature.

Perhaps the most controversial of all birds on the list is the California Gull. While the seagull is known to be from a state other than Utah, it is also the official state bird of Utah and has been ever since the Donner Party brought it over on their return trip from California. A change in the state’s most beloved mascot could prove devastating to several seagull owners in Utah, but local legislators have confirmed the very real possibility of being forced to name a new state bird.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Services, in conjunction with private contractor Furst Construction, is slated to begin construction of the bird fence sometime this summer. The fence will follow exactly the state line on every side, with checkpoint gates placed anyplace roads cross the border. A major worry of bird lovers is that the fence will also trap already existing foreign bird species inside of the state. “That’s a valid concern,” says Utah Governor John Huntsman, “Already existing foreign species will be tagged and allowed to remain, provided they behave in a civil avian manner. Otherwise, we will be forced to place them in Cat-apault and launch them over the fence and out of state boundaries.”

Opponents to the bird fence claim the state doesn’t have the authority to interfere with bird migration paths, noting that birds have no understanding of political boundaries, rather base their nesting patterns on geographical features that inherently are crossed by state lines.

When asked if a 20-foot fence would be tall enough to really keep birds out, the bills main propagator Sen. Wayne Niederhauser (R) of Sandy City responded, “Oh it’ll be big enough alright. You bet it will be big enough.”
The complete list of banned bird species can be seen in its entirety at Utah.gov.

More Utah news at The Regal Seagull