RE: Picking up a feather

It is against federal law to possess a feather of a Song Sparrow,
or of any other species protected by {I think this is it} the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The reasoning is that it is easier to
prosecute on the basis of possession, because the criterion is
clearer to everyone. If the enforcers of this law had to prove
how each person came into possession of the feather, enforcing
the law would be very difficult and a lot of nefarious folks
would get away with murder. So stick with pigeon, house sparrow.
and starling feathers if you must have a feather collection.
Domestic chickens are okay, too -- but you see the difference by
now, I'm sure.

--
Barbara Combs obie '70
Eugene, OR
bcombs at ednet1.osl.or.gov