The MBTA was born in an era when people adorned their hats with egret feathers, and signed their letters with
pelican-quill pens. At the same time, sport hunters were pushing for a law that
would unify state hunting regulations.
Through a far seeing coalition of
hunters and conservationists, this Act assures the protection of a healthy
environment for people, fish and wildlife, and helps Americans conserve and
enjoy our living treasures.
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History
The Migratory Bird
Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918 implemented the 1916 convention between the United
States and Great Britain for the protection of birds migrating between the U.S.
and Canada. Similar conventions between the United States and Mexico (1936),
Japan (1972) and the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (1976) further
expanded the scope of international protection of migratory birds. Each new
treaty has been incorporated into the MBTA as an amendment and the provisions of
the new treaty are implemented domestically. These four treaties and their enabling
legislation, the MBTA, established Federal responsibilities for the protection
of nearly all species of birds, their eggs and nests.
MBTA Protection
The MBTA made it illegal for
people to "take" migratory birds, their eggs, feathers or nests.
Take is defined in the
MBTA to include by any means or in any manner, any
attempt at hunting, pursuing, wounding, killing, possessing or transporting any
migratory bird, nest, egg, or part thereof. The Bald
and Golden Eagle
Protection Act affords additional protection to all bald
and golden eagles.
Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs
primarily operates under the
auspices of the MBTA. In total, 836
bird species are protected by the MBTA, 58 of which are currently legally hunted
as game birds. A migratory bird is any species or family of birds that live,
reproduce or migrate within or across international borders at some point during
their annual life cycle.
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