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Index of Subjects --Boundary_(ID_ZbXgpSQ/gRMtBM+ghzhGrw) Content-type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT It is true that, technically, it is forbidden to have any part of the protected migratory birds, which is just about all of them except traditional game birds and invasives (like the House Sparrow and the Starling). This means that the great feather collection I had as a kid was technically illegal, as was the fine collection of bird skulls I had assembled. I better not even talk about the eggshells which I picked up around nests. Fortunately, nothing ever happened to me, because I grew up in simpler and altogether better times. It is pure stupidity, and an example of how supposedly clever legislators (and, in this case, also diplomats) don't usually comprehend all the repercussions of their actions, when they get into large policy issues. The human brain (and also the brain of a legislator, which is mostly similar) is usually best suited for simple decisions, on the level of "What should I have for breakfast this morning?" There may be a way to get a permit for a feather collection. I would hope so. In fact, I would like to see people request a permit every time they see a feather. Technically, if you take a feather to the museum for identification, you should be pulled over on the way and arrested. I suppose that you can take a picture of said feather, though. On 16 Oct 2010, at 11:40 AM, Kathleen MacAulay wrote: > Hi Terry, > > Yes, as Marg says, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to possess migratory birds or any parts thereof without a permit. Migratory birds includes shorebirds, songbirds, raptors and other groups. It is permitted to possess feathers of species which are legally hunted here, I think. > > For feather id, if it happens to be a wing feather, the Slater Museum of Natural History has an online database of wing images which is quite extensive, which you can see here. There's another database for flight feathers only from the USFWS, which can be found here. It's neat because it tries to help you id feathers, but it doesn't have as many non-game species as the museum. > > Kathleen MacAulay > Milford Station > > From: Terry Boswell <ta_boz@hotmail.com> > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > Sent: Sat, October 16, 2010 10:26:04 AM > Subject: [NatureNS] Feather identification. > > To all > > My wife and I get out on the trails regularly and quite often discover bird feathers. Does anyone know of a good web site to aid in feather identification? Also, are there any legal issues with owning / collecting feathers in Canada? > > Terry Boswell > Cork St., Halifax > > > --Boundary_(ID_ZbXgpSQ/gRMtBM+ghzhGrw) Content-type: text/html; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable <html><head><base href=3D"x-msg://57/"></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; ">It is true that, technically, it is forbidden to = have any part of the protected migratory birds, which is just about all = of them except traditional game birds and invasives (like the House = Sparrow and the Starling). This means that the great feather = collection I had as a kid was technically illegal, as was the fine = collection of bird skulls I had assembled. I better not even talk = about the eggshells which I picked up around nests. Fortunately, = nothing ever happened to me, because I grew up in simpler and altogether = better times.<div><br></div><div>It is pure stupidity, and an example of = how supposedly clever legislators (and, in this case, also diplomats) = don't usually comprehend all the repercussions of their actions, when = they get into large policy issues. The human brain (and also the = brain of a legislator, which is mostly similar) is usually best suited = for simple decisions, on the level of "What should I have for breakfast = this morning?"<div><br></div><div>There may be a way to get a permit for = a feather collection. I would hope so. In fact, I would like = to see people request a permit every time they see a = feather.</div><div><br></div><div>Technically, if you take a feather to = the museum for identification, you should be pulled over on the way and = arrested. I suppose that you can take a picture of said feather, = though.</div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On 16 Oct 2010, at 11:40 = AM, Kathleen MacAulay wrote:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; = font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; = font-size: 10pt; ">Hi Terry,<br><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; = margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: = verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, = serif; font-size: 12pt; "><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: = 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: verdana, = helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; "><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; = margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br>Yes, as = Marg says, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal to possess = migratory birds or any parts thereof without a permit. Migratory birds = includes shorebirds, songbirds, raptors and other groups. It is = permitted to possess feathers of species which are legally hunted here, = I think.<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><br>For = feather id, if it happens to be a wing feather, the Slater Museum of = Natural History has an online database of wing images which is quite = extensive, which you can see<span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a rel=3D"nofollow" = target=3D"_blank" = href=3D"http://digitalcollections.ups.edu/slater/">here</a>. There's = another database for flight feathers only from the USFWS, which can be = found<span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a = rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank"