Is Bird Law In This Country Governed By Reason? I'm Here To Tell You That It Is.
Mostly.
There is actually a substantial body of regulation governing the treatment, hunting, and live keeping of numerous bird species in North America. However, though the unbarred-attorney lobby may attempt to convince you otherwise, bird law is most certainly governed by a degree of reason.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 is one of the earliest pieces of US Federal environmental legislation. Enacted to curb over-exploitation of various migratory bird species during a period where your average fashionable lady had pushed the feather poaching trade to murder her at least 17 birds a year, it has proven to be an effective deterrent against many forms of "fowl" (sic) exploitation ever since.
Believe it or not, there was once a time where for ecological reasons, these type of rules had to be strictly enforced. Women, natural defenders of the right to wear anything (no matter how grotesque) were laying economic waste to their men by paying to attach every conceivable dead fowl to their noggins.
I'm not making this up or exaggerating. According to Popular Science, "birds on hats were so popular that they contributed to the decline of several species like the snowy egret and the common tern."
However, this law was not implemented without thought. It includes provisions for a number of exceptions, including "the use of Eagles or their 'affects'" by Native Americans for ritual purposes. Exceptions are also granted for: "taxidermy, falconry, propagation, scientific and educational use, and depredation."
Despite a lack of slap-dash construction, this law is still one of those that regularly makes criminals out of unknowing Americans. Possessing so much as a feather or an eggshell from any of the protected species, or disturbing any nesting birds, is all punishable under the act. Keeping any protected bird as a pet, even temporarily as an act of environmental charity (in the case of injured animals,) is also punishable.
Remember - no good deed goes unpunished.
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Sources: Wikipedia, Audobon.org, Popular Science
Copyright: IASIP, FabulousMissK.com, Audobon.org, Pacific Standard
Guess that tern aint so common now. I wonder if part of the reason for grandfathering Native American rituals was to avoid 1st amendment religious challenge? As for making criminals out of those ignorant of the law written and controlled by elites and hidden behind paywalls especially PACER bullshit, kind of strikes at due process. If people aren't meaningfully put on notice of laws that regulate and criminalize conduct, then punishing them for non compliance seems especially unjust.
"I wonder if part of the reason for grandfathering Native American rituals was to avoid 1st amendment religious challenge?"
Agree fully with everything you stated. As for the above, we've always been particularly partial to Native American interests legally, partially as "guilt" for past indiscretions. They are a "sympathetic" people, at present.
Yep, so sad what mericans were forced to do at a barrel of a gun. Hope you doing well bud!!
This post is quite entertaining. My friend's aunt has had a couple of birds, when I asked her about it she said some of the birds she takes cares of are not able to live themselves ( blind on one eye, broken wings etc ). I wonder how the government would judge that ( if the bird is illegal but unable to survive on the wild ).
There are actually procedures to deal with this, specifically. You are supposed to report/turn over the bird to an appropriate department (Fish & Game / Wildlife) so they can rehabilitate it via federal shelters.
In practice, it's not a very practical option.
This is an awesome read! Thoroughly enjoyed it.
I do have a question though, after reading this I tried googling
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 to find the punishment if caught guilty as I couldnt find the answer myself.
It actually depends on the severity of the infraction, as well as other factors. It's one of those "Fines up to $100,000 and up to 1 year in prison" situations, where the judge has a ton of latitude in sentencing.
Lol bird law
At least I know from your avatar that you totally got it!
That's an amazing episode, btw. Charlie is by far my favorite character...hilarious.
hahah yesss, too bad they removed it form netflix :(
Birds protection laws, one way to show love and emphathy to God's wonderful creation
I can't argue with the sentiment, but I think you may have missed the intended humor here (reference to US show "It's Always Sunny").
Very informative article. I would not, in my life, put my head on - the body of a dead bird. Merry Christmas! Good luck to you and good.
This post is partially a humor post based on the American show "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". Thank you for taking the time to translate your comment. I thought this might help it make more sense for you.
nice post.
Do tell what you found nice about it? I'm sure you have the time, since you obviously only budgeted 1.5 seconds to writing this comment.
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Those hats surely look ugly!
I wonder what will people think in the future about our clothes style today?
I'm thinking that, for one, they will think they are notably less crazy than the styles I highlighted in this post.
PETA would have had a permanent aneurysm had they existed "back in the day."