What can I say about Chatuchak Weekend Market?

When I refer to the Chatuchak Market, I am actually referring to the entire block of markets, stretching from the actual market to JJ Mall in the back. In fact, most of the criminal activity has now been moved to the back, in what is the pet market, open all days of the week and thriving with wild bird trade.

Wild birds can be found selling on the roadsides at all times of the day. Most of the victims are orioles, bulbuls, leafbirds and mynas, but on occasion you’ll find a few more interesting specimen such as broadbills, barbets and owls.

A trip on Sunday the 11th found a White Crowned Hornbill, three Green Broadbill, a single Dusky Broadbill, a House Crow, Golden Crested Myna, Collared Scops Owl, Asian Barred Owlet, Shrika, and a host of other common specimen. A call to the forestry department was unanswered. –After all, it was Sunday.

One seller has a pair of Grey faced Parakeets on sale. The original price was 1000 baht for the pair, and when I turned to walk away, the price dropped to 600. “Do you know that selling parrots is illegal?” I asked. Her response was “I’ll give them to you for 400, throw in the cage for free and cover it with newspaper so the authorities won’t see.”

Either its desperate times or it’s an age-old habit which is not too easily broken.

The last place I stopped by had over 2000 Silver Eared Mesia for sale at 1200 baht a bird. –Songbirds from China was the excuse.

I would like to invite anyone from the forestry department to walk the streets of the pet market in plainclothes for a week. You’ll be surprised how inventive these traders are. The minute one specimen is sold out, a new, fresh cage is brought out from a shop somewhere in the market. It seems the traders have a never ending supply of birds, hidden in some shop. God only knows how many are suffering in some dark corner.