From: geocaching-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:geocaching-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of tnsl Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 5:25 PM To: geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [GeoStL] Re: indoor caches Re: Titus Hollow RE: Reaching milestone Congrats! Enjoyed reading your log and seeing the photos. We're on our way to 500 in 5 years! eek. And, don't worry, we've all got your back on the TURKEY feather. What about owls? I read some of the other logs and a few made mention of owls. ohhhhhh Piasa bird?? I bet THAT'S it. Nancy Nancy and anyone else interested, possessing eagle feathers is a criminal violation of the Endangered Species Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (?MBTA?). The MBTA is rather broad and covers most birds. Turkeys are not covered and you can possess their feathers. I am not sure about owls. Basically, unless there are regulations allowing hunting, it is crime to posses a migratory bird feather. While you are not likely to get arrested for picking up a feather, it is a crime. The US has treaties with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia for protection of birds that migrate between the countries. I believe the underlying reason for making it a crime is so people don?t kill the birds to get feathers (unless there is a regulated hunting program and as someone else mentioned there is also an exception for Native American ceremonial use). UNITED STATES CODE TITLE 16. CONSERVATION CHAPTER 7--PROTECTION OF MIGRATORY GAME AND INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS SUBCHAPTER II--MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY § 703. Taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds unlawful Unless and except as permitted by regulations made as hereinafter provided in this subchapter, it shall be unlawful at any time, by any means or in any manner, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture, or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to barter, barter, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, export, import, cause to be shipped, exported, or imported, deliver for transportation, transport or cause to be transported, carry or cause to be carried, or receive for shipment, transportation, carriage, or export, any migratory bird, any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, or any product, whether or not manufactured, which consists, or is composed in whole or in part, of any such bird or any part, nest, or egg thereof, included in the terms of the conventions between the United States and Great Britain for the protection of migratory birds concluded August 16, 1916 (39 Stat. 1702), the United States and the United Mexican States for the protection of migratory birds and game mammals concluded February 7, 1936, the United States and the Government of Japan for the protection of migratory birds and birds in danger of extinction, and their environment concluded March 4, 1972 [FN1] and the convention between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the conservation of migratory birds and their environments concluded November 19, 1976. Jim Bensman "Nature Bats Last"