16 U.S.C. § 6101 — Findings

Congress finds that: (1) Of nearly 800 bird species known in the United States, about 500 migrate between countries. Most of these neotropical migrants spend winter in Latin America and the Caribbean^* and breed in Canada and the United States. (2) Neotropical migratory birds provide invaluable environmental, economic, recreational, and aesthetic benefits to the United States and the Western Hemisphere. (3)(A) Many populations once thought common are declining, and some have declined so far that their long-term survival in the wild is in danger. (B) The main reason is habitat loss and degradation, including pollution and contamination, across the species’ range. (4)(A) Because these birds cross many international borders each year, conserving them requires the commitment and effort of every country along their routes. (B) Many initiatives already conserve migratory birds and their habitat, but better coordination can significantly strengthen and improve those initiatives.