[CT Birds] Bird Seed Tax

[Milan Bull]

In the early 1980's the Connecticut Audubon Society launched an effort to pass a Bird Seed Tax specifically to provide funding for the DEP Wildlife Division (Bureau of Natural Resources).  These funds would be specifically earmarked for wildlife conservation purposes and held in a special DEP fund for that purpose.  We never really got to first base with the effort then, as it was heavily opposed by the bird seed companies as well as retailers.  The state lawmakers didn't like it because they are generally opposed to special funding mechanisms (read: they can't get their hands on them).

Times have changed, however, and I believe it could be done, but it would require a massive effort on behalf of the environmental community.  Our Fairfield Nature Center currently sells nearly 250,000 lbs of bird seed every year at just this one Center and nearly every one of our customers are in favor of such a "surcharge" if it could be used directly for conservation purposes. Just a few cents per bag of seed could result in millions of badly needed dollars for wildlife in this state.

Milan Bull
Connecticut Audubon Society