Pity the poor bird that was found wandering in Encinitas and which is now housed at the County Department of Animal Services.
Through no fault of its own, the African Crowned Crane somehow found its way to the 2400 block of Calle San Clemente on Saturday, according to Director of Animal Services, Dawn Danielson.
Such birds are native to Africa. There are few legal ways the bird could have found its way into the U.S.
The woman who discovered the bird herded it into her garage, the story goes. It was turned over to the authorities who ID'd it and alerted the media. It's now in protective custody at the county animal pokey in Carlsbad.
Though there are a number of laws on the books about illegal importation of nonnative species, county animal authorities say the Crowned Crane is not regulated by state or federal authorities.
They await the owners' call and failing that, will await the requisite time period before putting it up for adoption to "an accredited organization such as a zoo or sanctuary that would be willing to accept the bird."
UPDATE: The bird's owner has come forward to claim it.
At this point, a review of current laws regarding the importation of "pets" into the U.S. remains worthwhile. Federal Customs & Border Protection officers are often the first line of defense.
The CBP recommends anyone seeking to bring a "pet" bird before you depart if planning to import or export any of the following:
"Wild birds, land or marine mammals, reptiles, fish, shellfish, mollusks or invertebrates."
They refer inquiries about specific species to authorities at U.S. Department of Agriculture.
It's worth noting that you can't just bring any old species into any old port. They must be specifically designated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife "to handle fish and wildlife entries."
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