Birds imported into the United States in 1972

Birds imported into the United States in 1972 are tabulated by species. Total numbers for the period 1968-72 are given for the more commonly imported taxa. The number of birds imported in 1972 (640,995) decreased by about one third from that of 1971, largely as a result of a ban declared on the importation of birds in August 1972 due to the outbreak of exotic Newcastle,disease. Much of the decrease in numbers imported was a result of a large decrease in the numbers of parrots imported. In 1972 parrots accounted for under 9% of all birds imported, compared with nearly 25% of all imports the previous year. In 1972, 624 species were imported of which 105 had not been reported in the previous 4 years; since 1968, approximately 1,540 species have been imported. Birds were imported from 53 countries; 10 countries provided nearly 95% of the individual birds. The proportion of presumably wild-caught birds increased to about 86% compared with about 77% in 1971.