Warning about feathers

This morning, while in the grocery store, I spotted a young man walking around with an adult redtail feather in his hatband. I informed him that it was illegal for him to have that to which he replyed, "It was given to me by an Indian". I told him that didn't matter, he wasn't an Indian and therefore had to have a permit to possess anything from a protected species. I doubt very much if he was impressed with my statement and probably won't remove it from his hat. I just hope that he isn't wearing it when a Game Warden comes upon him. The feather would surely be confiscated and the young man would probably be given a ticket for its possession. Even the native people have to obtain permits if they want new or replacement feathers from the Federal Feather Depository near Denver. If they have old feathers, such as those in PowWow costumes, they are allowed to posses them as they have provenence for them.

I know it seems a bit harsh to enforce that law but if it isn't done then people could just kill any raptor, yank out some feathers and say they found them. To combat this inclination a law was passed stating that no part of any protected bird can be in possession without the proper permits. That means every bird but those you can legally hunt, i.e. geese, ducks, pheasant, etc. or pigeons, European Starlings and English Sparrows. All others are protected by law, including songbird feathers, i.e. bluebirds, robins, meadowlark, etc. In some states there are seasons for crows as they are nuisance birds but be sure to check the local laws before just going out and blasting away.