That’s what I keep hearing, but I can’t find the statute anywhere. My guess is that there is a law that’s intended to keep people from killing endangered birds for their plumage, but I can’t imagine that would apply to someone picking up a stray feather in his front yard and keeping it as a knickknack.
I’ve actually seen people get quite distressed at someone - even a child - picking up a feather. It all just seems like an over-the-top interpretation of a well meaning law. Tell me I’m not a criminal for using this blue jay feather as a bookmark.
It is technically federal violation under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. You cannot collect feathers from any endangered birds and most other birds no matter how you get them. It is an unusually severe law if followed to the letter. You can google it but here is one explanation. There are other state and federal laws on top of it.
I never knew that collecting bird feathers was illegal. I just figured that parents telling their kids not to were doing it because ew, who knows where it’s been.
The other thread doesn’t say: Anyone know how thoroughly this law is enforced? Are many people who pick up feathers as a hobby (as opposed to selling them) prosecuted?
I only remember hearing about one person who was convicted for that sort of thing. In 1994, a woman named Peg Bargon sent a dream catcher that included a feather from an endangered bird to Hillary Clinton. I’ve read conflicting reports of whether Clinton turned Bargon in or if wildlife officials began investigating when they read about the gift in the press. Bargon ended up pleading guilty and paying a fine of $1,200.
As an addendum: There are rules in national and some state parks that also prevent taking things like feathers. I looked into these rules on my visit to Yellowstone earlier this year, and they made it illegal to take any part of any animal, regardless of the species or the method of acquisition.
Well, I found a copy of the statue here. I’ve highlighted what seems to be the relevant parts:
The penalties are pretty severe:
Six months in jail for a feather?! How ridiculous! I mean, I understand that they are trying to protect these birds, but if picking up a stray feather makes you a criminal, then the law is an ass.
I can’t believe that they can’t tweak the language to allow for the casual possession of a few feathers. This is the kind of law that makes the government in general and environmentalists in particular look like a bunch of morons.
OK, OK, I’m well into GD territory by now, so I’ll stop.
The laws came about because of the wholesale slaughter of birds for ladies fashion. It seems severe now, but the feather trade was like the the current elephant tusk or tiger penis trade of today.
Yeah that is what I read too , you can’t pick up an eagle feather b/c it’s illegal ,but I wonder how many people are even aware of this . I never seen any signs in parks telling you this , have you?
