Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Illegal Nest Sales on eBay (fwd)
Date: Jul 10 09:47:45 2004
From: Larry Schwitters - lpatters at ix.netcom.com


I just did an quick Ebay search and came up with one real bird nest.

http://cgi.earthlink.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1337&item=3687866985&rd=1

The seller is from Bellingham.

It says, "Real Bird Nest found in Hawaii after a big wind." They could have
found it on the ground after a big wind, or they could have pealed it out of a
tree after a big wind. I doubt that the law distinguishes between the two.

It does have a low starting price-$2.99. I wonder if the doily is included?

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah
------------------------------------------------------------------------





HI:
FYI
Ian Paulsen wrote:

> 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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