The Service may, in extremely rare cases, grant permits to remove active nests. Permits to remove nests are typically only granted in situations where the specific nest poses a risk to human health or safety or where the birds are in imminent danger. Generally speaking, you have to wait for the nest to become inactive—that is, to stop producing eggs or chicks and to stop being utilized by the birds for breeding—before demolishing it. The MBTA does not forbid the destruction of a bird nest on its own (without eggs or birds inside), as long as no possession is transferred in the process. It is unlawful to gather, possess, or transfer ownership of migratory bird nests in any way. Although the MBTA does not forbid nest destruction in and of itself, it does forbid nest destruction that leads to the unlawful taking of migratory birds or their eggs, and such theft is illegal and subject to full prosecution.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) protects the majority of bird nests. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the taking, possession, import, export, transportation, sale, purchase, barter, or offering for sale of any migratory bird, or its parts, nests, or eggs, unless authorized by a valid permit. It is also illegal to demolish a nest that contains eggs or chicks, or if the nest is still supporting young birds that are dependent on it for survival. Additionally, unless they have a permit granted by the U.S. government, it is unlawful for anyone to keep a nest they remove from a tree or discover on the ground. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Destroying migratory bird species’ nests increases the risk of breaking the Migratory Bird Treaty Agreement (MBTA) because of their unique biological and behavioral traits. Colony nesting birds, for instance, are extremely sensitive to disturbance; destroying their nests during or close to the nesting season may result in a substantial amount of take. Even people approaching these rookeries too closely, which disrupts the activities associated with nesting, can have negative effects on the birds because the young may get scared, abandon their nests early, get dispersed, and starve to death while their parents only return to the area surrounding the nest.
Certain nests are more susceptible to accidental destruction because they are difficult to locate and identify. It can be particularly challenging to spot and identify birds that nest in tree cavities or holes in the ground, as well as birds that nest on the ground in rocky or sandy environments. There might not be a typical nest in these situations, unlike what a species that builds nests in trees might construct. Shorebird nests are one example of this; they can look like little scrapes or depressions in the ground, possibly lined with some shells, twigs, or stones, and they can be very difficult to recognize as nests. Another illustration would be species that nest in ground cavities, like bank swallows and burrowing owls. Finding out if a cavity contains birds or live eggs can be challenging. If these species are known to exist in the area, we advise speaking with a specialist who can help identify whether adults, eggs, or chicks are present before demolishing a nest of this kind.
Port Director Charles Perez stated, “We must protect America’s agricultural and natural resources in order to fulfill CBP’s agriculture mission.” “Our agriculture specialists understand how critical it is to foil these kinds of smuggling attempts in order to stop the spread of dangerous pests and infectious diseases that haven’t been introduced into our agricultural practices. Seizures like this one keep that threat at bay. ”.
These goods, which some nations view as delicacies, are forbidden from entering the U.S. S. because they may be carriers of the H5N1 virus, which causes Newcastle Disease.
If travelers would like information about bringing food and agricultural products into the country, they should check out the website of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or CBP.
Arriving from Vietnam, the passenger failed to declare the items. The nests were found hidden inside a box of herbs by CBP agriculture specialists during the passenger’s baggage inspection.
In fiscal year 2015, CBP agriculture specialists found 4548 materials, including plants, meat, animal byproducts, and soil, that needed to be destroyed or placed under quarantine on an average day.
FAQ
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