Cowbirds - shoot them?
Zak
I've got cowbirds at my feeder.
My father-in-law says I should buy an air gun and shoot them.
I can't really see myself shooting anything, but on the other hand, I
don't want to be responsible for the continued decline of song birds
in New England.
So,
1) Are there alternatives to shooting?
2) If there are no alternatives, is it legal to shoot cowbirds?
3) Can anyone speak in defense of the cowbirds and make me feel
alright about feeding them?
- Zak
Hychkok
Zak says:
> I
>don't want to be responsible for the continued decline of song birds
>in New England.
Don't feel so personally responsible about the decline (unless you are filling
in marshes & backhoeing open space for parking lots in your spare time!)
Cowbirds are doing what comes naturally, like it or not.
Try switching feeders and the seed you offer. Songbirds like thistle & small
tube feeders. It's harder for a big bird to eat from a hanging tube feeder. I
also put out safflower seeds at my house-- I don't know about cowbirds, but
grackles don't like the safflower and usually move on. Try it and see if the
cowbirds go pa-tooey with it. You can buy safflower at a wild bird store.
(Cardinals & finches, BTW, love safflower)
I also have a Droll Yankee feeder that has an adjustable top, so you can make
it too small for large birds to enter.
Doris Smith
I guess I am one in a million because I don't mind cowbirds. Let me
explain before I get a lot of hate mail. At my feeders for the past
three years I only get a pair of cowbirds . A male and a female, so I
enjoy them and they only come twice a day. They are not eating me out
of house and home. Doris Smith
JANISCLARK
>?
>2) If there are no alternatives, is it legal to shoot cowbirds?
Cowbirds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act and not legal to shoot. I had
several of them at my feeders so set up several feeding areas. In one area, I
just put food out on the ground and that is where the cowbirds seem to like it
best so they are not bothering the hanging feeders any more.
Janis
jj
<snip>
>> 2) If there are no alternatives, is it legal to shoot cowbirds?
janis...@aol.com (JANISCLARK) wrote:
>Cowbirds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act and not legal to shoot. I had
>several of them at my feeders so set up several feeding areas. In one area, I
>just put food out on the ground and that is where the cowbirds seem to like it
>best so they are not bothering the hanging feeders any more.
>Janis
^
^
===> My feeder is 7 - 8 feet high and it doesn't seem to attract any
cowbirds. The other birds don't seem to mind the location.
There is always some spillage for the cowbirds & juncos.
John T.
smin...@umich.edu
In article <6h2vmt$4kt$1...@newsd-111.bryant.webtv.net>,
The problem isn't so much that they eat too much. They are parasites and lay
their eggs in songbird nests. They are one of the biggest threats to the
Kirtland warblers (as many as SEVEN cowbird eggs have been found in a
warbler's nest). But, as another poster pointed out, cowbird numbers have a
lot to do with habitat alteration and other factors you may not be
individually responsible for we as a society should be dealing with.
Sharon Minnick
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading
Mr. C.
JANISCLARK wrote:
> >?
> >2) If there are no alternatives, is it legal to shoot cowbirds?
>
> Cowbirds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act and not legal to shoot. I had
> several of them at my feeders so set up several feeding areas. In one area, I
> just put food out on the ground and that is where the cowbirds seem to like it
> best so they are not bothering the hanging feeders any more.
> Janis
If cowbirds are protected by the MBTA why is trapping them (and killing them) a
frequently used mitigation measure for projects impacting endangered songbirds
here in the southwest? As far as I know there aren't any special permits required
for this.
Don Wilkins
On Fri, 17 Apr 1998 08:19:39 -0700, "Mr. C." <asz...@e2.empirenet.com>
wrote:
There are some efforts to protect endangered species from cowbirds.
One which I am aware of is the effort to reduce the cowbird
population in the nesting area of the Kirtland warbler in Michigan. I
am sure there are others.
There also are projects to eliminate specific problems created by
massive roosts of other species of common birds where there presence
creates a problem.
As far as I know there is no place where killing of any species of
migratory birds is legal without the appropriate federal permits.
Cowbirds are considered migratory species and therefore are protected.
If you have knowledge of any such efforts perhaps you should report
that activity to the appropriate authorities.
>
Billy or Brenda Dunbar
Mr. C. wrote:
>
> JANISCLARK wrote:
>
> > >?
> > >2) If there are no alternatives, is it legal to shoot cowbirds?
> >
> > Cowbirds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act and not legal to shoot. I had
> > several of them at my feeders so set up several feeding areas. In one area, I
> > just put food out on the ground and that is where the cowbirds seem to like it
> > best so they are not bothering the hanging feeders any more.
> > Janis
>
> If cowbirds are protected by the MBTA why is trapping them (and killing them) a
> frequently used mitigation measure for projects impacting endangered songbirds
> here in the southwest? As far as I know there aren't any special permits required
> for this.
Are you talking Brown-headed Cowbirds or Bronzed Cowbirds in the S.W.?
I have seen cowbird traps in Texas to help protect the Black-capped
Vireo but it was done with the proper permits by govt. agents.
--
There's a feeling I get when I look * regards,
to the west and my spirit is crying * Billy
for leaving. * Northeast Ga.-USA
* To reply: remove ".wienerdog"
Led Zeppelin * from my address
Stairway To Heaven * (address is munged to avoid spam)
Lisa Wheeler
Yes, Cowbirds are protected, and it is ILLEGAL to shoot them. The only 2
birds that are NOT Protected are House Sparrows and Starlings.
That is it!!!!!!!
Lisa Wheeler
>I doubt that. Around here Brown-headed Cowbirds are completely unprotected
>and considered a nuisance species. You can get rid of them any way you
>want.
Ann
Jim B. Powlesland wrote
>JANISCLARK <janis...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>>Cowbirds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act and not legal to shoot.
>
>and considered a nuisance species. You can get rid of them any way you
>want.
[ http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=7093318178
+1+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve ]
[Code of Federal Regulations][Title 50, Volume 1, Parts 1 to 199]
[Revised as of October 1, 1997]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access[CITE: 50CFR10.13]
[Page 11-27] TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR
PART 10--GENERAL PROVISIONS--Table of Contents
Subpart B--Definitions
<...>
Sec. 10.13 List of Migratory Birds.
The following is a list of all species of migratory birds protected
by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-711) and subject to the
regulations on migratory birds contained in this subchapter B of title
50 CFR. The species listed are those protected by the Convention for the
Protection of Migratory Birds, August 16, 1916, United States-Great
Britain (on behalf of Canada), 39 Stat. 1702, T.S. No. 628; <...>
====
Cowbird:
Bronzed, Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed, Molothrus ater
Shiny, Molothrus bonariensis
====
Ann
BJWakeland
In article <#o22bcAb9GA.295@upnetnews03>, "Lisa Wheeler"
<lisaw...@email.msn.com> writes:
>Yes, Cowbirds are protected, and it is ILLEGAL to shoot them. The only 2
>birds that are NOT Protected are House Sparrows and Starlings.
>That is it!!!!!!!
>
>Lisa Wheeler
Crows are not protected here in Indiana. I also doubt that Brown-headed
Cowbirds are protected by federal regulation.
Bob
Ann
BJWakeland wrote
>"Lisa Wheeler" writes:
>
>>Yes, Cowbirds are protected, and it is ILLEGAL to shoot them. The only 2
>>birds that are NOT Protected are House Sparrows and Starlings.
>>That is it!!!!!!!
>>
>>Lisa Wheeler
>
>Crows are not protected here in Indiana. I also doubt that Brown-headed
>Cowbirds are protected by federal regulation.
>
>Bob
Both crows and Brown-headed Cowbirds are protected by the MBTA in the US -
which includes Indiana. I've posted the url for 50CFR10.13 - the USFWS has
a web page that also lists the protected species:
http://www.fws.gov/r9mbmo/intrnltr/mbta/mbtintro.html
Note that some listed migratory bird species can be hunted for sport, killed
for depredation, etc. - but only in accordance with Federal and State
regulations/permits. For example, some states do permit crow hunting - but
only in accordance with (federal) 50CFR20.133.
Also, while both US and Canada are signatories to the MBCA, there are
differences between the countries in implementation - i.e. the species
protected.
Ann
Dtrimb
Yes, shoot them first and then eat them--delicious when deep-fried--!!
Lisa Wheeler
Ann,
Thank You so VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lisa Wheeler
Ann wrote in message ...
Andrew Longtin
BJWakeland wrote:
> Crows are not protected here in Indiana. I also doubt that
> Brown-headed
> Cowbirds are protected by federal regulation.
>
> Bob
Bob,
Are you sure?? Here in Minnesota there is a hunting season for
crows but you cannot shoot them out of that season unless you can prove
they are doing damage to something..
--
Andrew B. Longtin
New Hope, MN
E-Mail to: Andrew (dot) Longtin (at) worldnet.att.net
Don Wilkins
>Yes, Cowbirds are protected, and it is ILLEGAL to shoot them. The only 2
>birds that are NOT Protected are House Sparrows and Starlings.
>That is it!!!!!!!
Yes cowbirds are protected but that is not it.
Pigeons also are not protected. By pigeons I am referring to the
domesticated or semi-domesticated species that frequents city parks,
etc.
In addition there are some exotic released species which are not
protected. The Monk Parrot problem in upstate New York e.g.
Ann
Jim B. Powlesland wrote
>Ann wrote:
>
>>Also, while both US and Canada are signatories to the MBCA, there are
>>differences between the countries in implementation - i.e. the species
>>protected.
>
Matter of fact, the Canadian MBCA doesn't cover hawks or owls, does it?
(From what I found, they would be covered under provinicial/territorial
regs.)
http://canada.justice.gc.ca/FTP/EN/Laws/Chap/M/M-7.01
Ann
>According to the 1998 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations:
>
>"All birds are protected except the following: Starlings, Crows, Pigeons,
>House (English) Sparrows, Magpies, Blackbirds, Common Grackles,
>Brown-headed Cowbirds, Ravens (on private land) and any other bird for
>which an open season has been declared by the regulations as indicated in
>this summary." [p.80]
>
Ann
Jim B. Powlesland wrote
>Ann wrote:
>
>>Matter of fact, the Canadian MBCA doesn't cover hawks or owls, does it?
>
Not according to what I've found on Canada government web sites:
This is what the Environment Canada web site says:
=====
Question:
Why are some species of migratory birds such as pelicans, cormorants, hawks
and owls, protected under provincial and territorial legislation rather than
under the M.B.C.A.?
Answer:
In 1916, when the International Convention was signed, it enabled
legislation to be enacted to protect migrating birds which were considered
either useful or harmless to man. At the time of the signing, there were
several species of migrating birds which were excluded from protection under
the M.B.C.A. due to their "undesirability" to man. Pelicans, cormorants,
hawks and owls, to name a few, were once considered pests and subsequently
left unprotected. These birds have since been recognized for their
importance to both man and the environment and have therefore become
protected under provincial and territorial legislation.
[ http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/ENGLISH/LIFE/MIGBIRDS/mbcqanda.html ]
====
And, from the Justice Canada web site referenced by EC:
=====
...
Article I
The High Contracting Powers declare that the migratory birds included in the
terms of this Convention shall be as follows:-
1. Migratory Game Birds:-
(a) Anatidae or waterfowl, including brant, wild ducks, geese, and swans;
(b) Gruidae or cranes, including little brown, sandhill, and whooping
cranes;
(c) Rallidae or rails, including coots, gallinules and sora and other rails;
(d) Limicolae or shorebirds, including avocets, curlew, dowitchers, godwits,
knots, oyster catchers, phalaropes, plovers, sandpipers, snipe, stilts, surf
birds, turnstones, willet, woodcock, and yellowlegs;
(e) Columbidae or pigeons, including doves and wild pigeons.
2. Migratory Insectivorous Birds: Bobolinks, catbirds, chickadees, cuckoos,
flickers, flycatchers, grosbeaks, humming birds, kinglets, martins,
meadowlarks,
nighthawks or bull bats, nuthatches, orioles, robins, shrikes, swallows,
swifts,
tanagers, titmice, thrushes, vireos, warblers, waxwings, whippoorwills,
woodpeckers, and wrens, and all other perching birds which feed entirely or
chiefly on insects.
3. Other Migratory Nongame Birds: Auks, auklets, bitterns, fulmars, gannets,
grebes, guillemots, gulls, herons, jaegers, loons, murres, petrels, puffins,
shearwaters, and terns.
.....
In faith whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the present
Convention in duplicate and have hereunto affixed their seals.
Done at Washington this sixteenth day of August, 1916.
[Here follow the signatures of Cecil Spring-Rice and Robert Lansing.]
.....
=====
Ann
