HI:
FYI

--
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way!"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 08:11:42 -0400
From: RESEARCH Hilton Pond Center <research at HILTONPOND.ORG>
To: BIRDCHAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Illegal Nest Sales on eBay

You may be aware that BirdChat, BirdBand, HumNet and some other
bird-related listservs have been carrying messages lately about the
illegal sale of bird nests on eBay. Since mid-June--when we first
noticed an eBay posting for a hummingbird nest that was subsequently
removed from auction when we contacted the seller and apprise her of
the illegality--at least four dozen different auctions have involved
the sale of nests and, in some cases, eggs they contained.

The possession or sale of any migratory bird, its feathers, nests,
eggs, or other artifacts are strictly prohibited by the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act of 1918. According to the law, "migratory birds" need
not migrate to be considered for protection, so virtually all
backyard birds are protected (see
http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/intrnltr/mbta/mbtandx.html#alpha1 ).
Now, at the height of the breeding season, folks certainly aren't
doing birds any favors by pulling nests out from under
them--especially when some of those birds could double- or
triple-brood in the same nest.

One seller from Charlotte NC auctioned off four labelled nests for
$41, including one each from Eastern Bluebird, Tufted Titmouse,
Carolina Wren, and Carolina Chickadee; the latter contained an egg.
When contacted about the federal and state statutes against such
sales, the seller responded that "These birds live in my yard all
year round and [are]not migratory birds," revealing his/her ignorance
of the legal definition of "migratory bird."

Today's (10 July) edition of The Charlotte (NC) Observer carries a
front-page article about the problem with eBay nest auctions. Rather
than re-hash all the listserv commentary about this topic, I'd like
to refer you to the on-line version at
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/9122751.htm?1c , in which
environmental writer Bruce Henderson discusses the major points.

I'd also like to ask that each of you, as concerned citizens and
protectors of wild birds, do four things as your time and interest
allow:

--Help monitor eBay for illegal sales of bird nests and report them
to your regional US Fish & Wildlife Service law enforcement office
(http://www.le.fws.gov/le_chart.htm ) and eBay management (addresses
at http://www.auctionguild.com/generic17.html ; there's also a form
at http://pages.ebay.com/help/contact_inline/index.html ). I should
mention that in some cases STATE fish & game officials have been more
responsive to reports of illegal auctions, so you may want to contact
them if the eBay auction page indicates the city/state from which the
nest/egg is being sold.

--Write DIRECTLY to the eBay seller apprising him/her of the
illegality of nest and/or egg sales (if you have an account on eBay,
a message can be sent directly from the auction site to the seller
without, if you wish, revealing your identity or location). Some
sellers have withdrawn their auctions due to such communications.

--Write DIRECTLY to an eBay bidder who is trying to buy nests and/or
eggs illegally (ditto the parenthetical note above)

--Ask you local newspaper to solicit the AP wire service to provide
them with the bird auction article from the 10 July 2004 edition of
The Charlotte Observer, and to publish it with a local angle (perhaps
even quotes from you expressing your personal concern)

Summer is a busy time for us all, but we know from experience that
the four kinds of activities listed above can have a positive impact
in educating the public--and potential nest sellers and buyers. It
may seem like tilting at windmills to try to stop eBay nest sales,
but the birds need all the help they can get. :-)


Happy Nature Watching!

BILL
--

RESEARCH PROGRAM
c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
research at hiltonpond.org, (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845

Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net):
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project" at http://www.rubythroat.org

**********

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