Thanks Wayne and Scott for your input on this. The info on migratory bird law supports my understanding of the protections for native non-game birds. I have not gone to see the Caracara, mainly because my schedule and family responsibilities have kept me from it. I do believe that as long as nobody trespasses and they behave ethically there is no reason to stay away. If I find myself in the vicinity with some free time I would certainly have a look. But that seems unlikely unless the bird has taken up permanent residence.
On the topic of relocating the bird, I would certainly support that if it seems the bird may be in danger from any of the locals who find birders annoying.

Michael Brown
Puyallup, WA
michael at flycatcherfile dot com
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

Wayne Weber <contopus at telus.net> wrote:

>Scott and Tweeters,
>
>Just as a point of fact, most (perhaps all) species of blackbirds ARE NOT
>protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They were excluded from the
>treaty when it was signed between the U.S. and Canada, for the very good
>reason that several blackbird species are often responsible for serious crop
>damage.
>
>HOWEVER-- most species of native birds which are not protected under the
>Migratory Bird Treaty Act are protected under state legislation in the U.S.,
>or provincial legislation in Canada. I'm sure that blackbirds are protected
>under state legislation in WA, but I'm also sure that blackbirds (and some
>other bird species) can be killed when and where they are causing
>significant crop damage. The sticker is that anyone planning to kill them
>would need at least a permit from the state to kill them. So, Scott is
>correct that people cannot kill them without a permit, but incorrect to say
>that they are protected by the MBTA.
>
>In British Columbia, whose laws I am more familiar with than those of
>Washington, there are only 6 species of birds which can be killed at any
>time without a permit, none of which is a blackbird. The list is: American
>Crow, Northwestern Crow, Black-billed Magpie, House Sparrow, Rock Pigeon,
>and European Starling. I suspect that the situation is somewhat similar in
>Washington, but it would be helpful if someone who works for the state could
>provide the relevant information for WA.
>
>Wayne C. Weber
>Delta, BC
>contopus at telus.net
>(Former Wildlife Damage Specialist, BC Ministry of Agriculture)
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
>[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Scott
>Downes
>Sent: July-07-15 6:12 PM
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: [Tweeters] Crested Caracara
>
>Tweets,
>An opinion on my end. People should practice good ethical behavior while
>viewing, but it seems that has been the case for the caracara. I am a firm
>believer that sometimes we are a bit too meek in our actions. That makes us
>a nice group to get along with but also allows us to be pushed around. If we
>were to worry about our viewing upsetting other people, we would stay away
>from many areas where hunters, land owners and others are annoyed by
>birders. Many groups are annoying and I doubt they just go away so quickly.
>Perhaps I'm missing something but I fail to see how standing quietly along a
>public road is disturbing the bird any more than groups of birders disturb
>birds at birding festivals, field trips etc..
>
>The homeowners I chatted with couldn't have been more thrilled to have us,
>even offering to let us use their yard. It seems the real issue is an odd
>landowner and we should try to not make the situation more strained than it
>is already, but to suggest that birders are the cause of this isn't based in
>fact from what I've seen posted.
>
>As for the poster who mentioned the landowner could shoot the blackbird, no
>they can't. Most native birds are protected under MBTA and it is illegal to
>shoot them.
>
>Scott Downes
>Downess at charter.net
>Yakima Wa
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Tweeters mailing list
>Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20150707/a959554a/attachment.htm