Hollywood Finch -- House Finch in San Simeon, California
by Darin Volpe
Title
Hollywood Finch -- House Finch in San Simeon, California
Artist
Darin Volpe
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
One of the more common species throughout the United States, the House Finch was originally found in western North America. A few moved to New York in 1940 when unscrupulous pet vendors imported them in violation if the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act to sell as "Hollywood Finches." Word of the illegal trapping of these birds made its way to the National Audubon Society, which sent undercover operatives to trap the criminals in the act. They arranged to buy a 100 birds for $35 and it was discovered that about 100,000 house finches had been captured in California and shipped to New York. Word spread that the federal government was about to close in on shops selling the "Hollywood Finches" so they shop owners did the obvious - they got rid of the evidence by sending their ill gotten birds to the skies over the city. From there they spread to Boston and Philadelphia, and within forty years could be found from Maine to Georgia and are now found throughout the United States.
Uploaded
May 13th, 2018
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