This is sad, funny and stupid

[Hardbopjazz]

I don't understand what he was trying to do with these birds.

Airport inspection reveals smuggled songbirds

AP

This undated photo provided by the Department of Justice shows detained suspect AP – This undated photo provided by the Department of Justice shows detained suspect Sony Dong, with songbirds …

* Man Tries To Smuggle Birds...In His Pants Play Video Video:Man Tries To Smuggle Birds...In His Pants CBS 2 / KCAL 9 Los Angeles

Wed May 6, 12:36 am ET

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Prosecutors say a traveler tried smuggling songbirds into the United States by strapping more than a dozen birds to his legs and trying to walk out of Los Angeles International Airport.

Sony Dong and another man were charged Tuesday with conspiracy in an eight-count federal indictment. Messages left with their public defenders weren't immediately returned.

The U.S. attorney's office says Dong was held over for inspection at the airport when he returned from Vietnam earlier this month. Prosecutors say he had bird feathers and droppings on his socks, and birds' tail feathers peeking out from under his pants.

Three red-whiskered bul-buls, four magpie robins and six shama thrush were among the birds that are now in quarantine. More birds were found in a Southern California home.

Article

Edited May 6, 2009 by Hardbopjazz

[Big Wheel]

I think those species are rare and I'm assuming the idea was to sell them for lots of money as pets. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/...gling-case.html

Back in the day in Miami, before I was born, there was a rare bird aviary/sanctuary near the house where my parents eventually moved, and one of the species they raised were red-whiskered bulbuls (native to Asia). A storm damaged the place and freed a large number of them, and they ended up thriving in Miami. The funny thing about them was that they would perch on our windowsills, see their own reflections, and then peck the shit out of the windows. They stopped doing that after a year or two, so either the bulbul population figured it out eventually or whatever windows we had bought during renovating the house turned out to be less reflective.

[Jazzmoose]

It's funny how some animals show up in the strangest places. If you're ever down in Sunnyvale, don't forget to visit the flock of parrots that hangs out near Pak 'N' Save!

[catesta]

Parrots of Brooklyn