Refuge Notebook

Article

October 19 , 2007

Bald Eagle Basics
By Kelly Modla

Have you ever found a feather, thinking it may belong to a bald eagle, and wondered if it
legal to keep it? That question has come up a time or two when people call the refuge to find out what laws govern eagle parts and their possession. The legislation that covers bald eagle parts is the Bald Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) of 1940, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), enacted in 1918, which provides protection for the bald eagle and golden eagle.

Historically, bald eagles and golden eagles declined after World War II due to widespread use of the pesticide DDT, which weakened eggs shells and caused high chick mortality.

By definition, the Eagle Act and MBTA prohibit take, possession, sale, purchase, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter transport, export or import, of any bald eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg, unless allowed by permit. The Eagle Act and the MBTA expanded the scope of the MBTA in 1972 to include bald eagles and other raptors and define take to include pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest or disturb.

So, let’s get back to that feather on the ground. If you want to pick it up and legally possess it, you must have a permit to handle or transport it. If you do not have a permit, you should leave it where you found it. This would also include parts such as talons, beaks, etc.

This leads us to the next question of who is allowed to possess eagle parts. Native Americans, who are members of a federally recognized tribe, may, for religious and cultural purposes only, possess bald eagle parts or feathers. While Native Americans can pass on through the generations items made with bald eagle feathers, they may not sell, purchase, barter, or trade them. Native Americans are also prohibited from giving eagle feathers or parts as gifts to non-Native Americans.

The second group authorized to possess eagles, their parts, and feathers includes public museums, zoological parks, and non-profit entities such as wildlife rehab centers that provide conservation education.

Across the United States, eagles are collected and/or received by State and Federal personnel and turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After attempting to determine a cause of death, such as unlawful shooting or electrocution, the appropriate measures are taken and the eagle is either placed in evidence or sent to the National Bald Eagle Repository in Denver, Colorado, a clearinghouse for bald eagle and golden eagle parts. In addition to electrocution and unlawful shooting, many of the salvaged birds are casualties of vehicle collisions, trapping, poisoning, or died of natural causes.

The main responsibility of the National Bald Eagle Repository is to receive, categorize, and assign a tracking number that allows for accountability purposes. The waiting list can be long for qualified individuals and the demand is great for whole eagles versus parts such as feathers and talons. Because of the existence of the National Bald Eagle Repository, the practice of taking bald eagles illegally is reduced and hunting pressure on current populations is minimized.

Landowners encounter a unique set of circumstances when a bald eagles nest is discovered on their property. Because the Eagle Act prohibits the destruction or removal of active or alternate eagle nests, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recognized the need to provide landowner guidance for what is newly referred to as the National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines. These guidelines advise landowners and other land managers about human activities that may pose a conflict or disturb bald eagles, affecting their ability to nest, roost, breed, or raise their young. The Guidelines offer recommendations on how to avoid unintentionally disturbing eagles or at the very least to minimize the impacts.

While some nesting bald eagle pairs may exhibit signs of disturbance, other eagles have adapted to human noise and congestion. Some of the Guideline recommendations suggest a distance buffer and maintaining a forested area to reduce visual and noise impacts. The guidelines define many different types of disturbance and should serve those needing clarification with some place to start.

Hopefully, it is never one’s intent to trap a bald eagle, but mistakes happen. State trapping regulations do not address the use of sight-exposed bait. When trapping on the Kenai Refuge, special conditions for the use of sight-exposed bait exist. Specifically, traps are prohibited within 30 feet of any sight-exposed bait. Although such selective bait placement is not foolproof, it reduces the chance of unintentionally catching an eagle or other raptors.

Recently, the bald eagle was removed from the list of threatened or endanger species in the Lower-48. Alaska of course remains a stronghold for bald eagles with estimates of between 50,000 and 70,000 birds. These facts are a sure sign that continued conservation and monitoring efforts are paying off.

If you find a sick or injured eagle, call the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to report it. If you find a dead eagle, leave it where you found it and call the Kenai Refuge. Questions regarding the permit process may be addressed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Permit Office, Anchorage, (907) 786-3693.

Kelly Modla has been a Refuge Officer at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge for ten years. She lives with her family in Soldotna.

You can check on new bird arrivals or report your bird sighting on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Birding Hotline (907) 262-2300.