Steven Coles asks:

Do I understand correctly that these laws extend to old nests, egg shells
& feathers?


Well my understanding of the law is any wild animal product is covered so
that would include feathers and stuff.

Feathers are there to protect species whose plumes are marketable - can't
think of any other than ostrich at the moment, but I suppose there are some
really cool birds of paradise that get hunted for their feathers.

Eggs shells are pretty obvious - broken or otherwise.

Not sure about the nest thing though - perhaps this relates more to larger
birds which may reuse nests, though this is proably less practical. Driving
down the freeway in a truck with an 8 foot high eagle nest strapped on the
back would be kind of ridiculous - but I'm sure it has been done.

Perhaps swiftlets, whose saliva and mud nests are used as bird nest soup
are the most likely target of this provision.

I know a lot of the old Victorian (well they would be by now :-)) ) egg
collectors used to take everything - adults, young, nest, so I suppose this
was another influence.

Looks like Fish & Wildlife folks are like policemen - you can never find
one when you need them. Come on Scott and Jon you know far more about this
than I do.

See ya,

Stuart