A relative of mine recently found this little guy and gave it to me. I’m pretty sure it’s from a young European House Sparrow but since I’m not one hundred percent certain of that ID (sparrows are very hard to accurately identify from just the bones because there are numerous species that are very similar in appearance) I turned it back over to nature after snapping a few quick photos. This old railroad cross tie had a hole in it that is now Skeleton Bird’s new home.
Here in the US, the majority of native bird species are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which makes it illegal for individuals to possess, sell, or trade in any part of them, be it shed feather, bones, eggshells, nests, etc. These pieces can be kept if an individual is affiliated with a museum or educational facility and has the proper permits. Members of Native American tribes can also obtain permits to possess parts from protected raptors like eagles and hawks but only members of those tribes can keep them and they cannot be gifted to anyone outside of the tribe. Licensed falconers can also keep feathers from their birds.
The MBTA was originally passed back in 1918 to prevent native songbirds from going extinct due to excessive hunting for the fashion industry (their colorful feathers were highly sought after for use in decorating hats and other accessories). It was later revised to protect many other birds, including birds of prey whose numbers were on a dramatic decline due to wanton slaughter and rampant poisoning.
Non-native species like European Starlings, European House Sparrows, Pigeons aka Rock Doves, and a few others are not covered by the MBTA and are fine to possess parts from.
As responsible collectors and good stewards of the vulture culture community it is very important to respect these laws. They are there for a reason.
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