#permits

That’s why I don’t possess any of these birds!

Almost all native birds (exceptions typically include upland game birds and certain waterfowl IF YOU HAVE HUNTING PERMITS etc.) are protected under the migratory bird treaty act (MBTA), and require special permits to salvage/collect or possess. It is federal crime to possess any of them, without such permits. Eagles do require separate specific permits.

While I do have a small personal collection of domestic and non-native captive birds (chickens and a budgie), everything else I post is prepped at a University museum. I also have some mammals but the laws around them are very different so we don’t need to get into that now.

The museum has all the required permits to salvage, collect, prepare, and possess these specimens for education and research. I just work and volunteer there while I’m getting my degree. Some of the preps here were done at a wildlife rehab for their education program when I worked there full time. They also had all the necessary permits.

The Eagles were prepared at a Tribal Eagle Aviary. My museum does have permits for Eagles. However, Eagles are accumulated at the Eagle Repository first before being distributed to museums and tribes, so it takes a long time to get them after requesting.

Tribal Eagle Aviaries have the required permits to salvage and possess Eagle parts for distribution to tribal members for cultural use. This Eagle Aviary also does raptor education and wanted two skins to use for off-site education while there live Eagles are still training for that.

Thank you for your concern! It’s an important reminder that everyone should be aware of the MTBA and which permits they would need to collect or posess any part of a protected native birds including eggs, nests, and feathers.

I do have a note in my blog’s bio and I try to mention it frequently in posts where it’s especially relevant like a few of my Eagle posts and in answering an ask about how to get into museum prep. I do think I should write a better pinned post introduction at some point though, and this is good encouragement :)

- some places won't allow compost toilets

- some won't allow greywater systems

- some have minimum space for building requirements (meaning no tinyhomes allowed)

- some require a permanent residence before placement of any other, smaller buildings (must afford actual house before being able to add a tinyhome or anything extra to house anyone else)

these are just a few examples- but it's ridiculous! we have a homelessness crisis and it's an issue being exacerbated by some of these unnecessary zoning laws and restrictions!